School and District Engagement : Building Momentum at John W. Lavelle Preparatory

John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School continues to build momentum in its partnership with The Writing Revolution (TWR), demonstrating a deepening commitment to strengthening writing instruction across disciplines. What began with a small group of focus teachers has grown into a schoolwide effort, led by a dedicated instructional leadership team working collaboratively to embed TWR strategies into everyday practice.

Department chairs—many of whom participated as focus teachers are now taking on leadership roles to support their colleagues in planning, modeling, and reflecting on TWR-aligned instruction. They have worked closely with TWR faculty through regular coaching and feedback cycles to refine their implementation and build internal capacity to sustain the work.

To support peer learning and consistency across departments, the leadership team developed a structure for inter-visitations, where department chairs co-planned lessons, co-taught with colleagues, and observed one another’s instruction. This practice has helped create a shared understanding of effective writing instruction and supported vertical and horizontal alignment throughout the school.

A recent professional learning session, led entirely by the department chairs, offered teachers the opportunity to experience a modeled TWR lesson in math and then apply the same approach in their content areas. Through collaborative annotation, a gallery walk, and time to reflect on next steps, educators left the session feeling confident and ready to integrate the strategies into their instruction. Several teachers noted their plans to use the strategies immediately, with some even requesting them as part of upcoming formal observations.

As Lavelle continues to expand and refine its use of TWR, the school is strengthening its instructional culture through shared leadership, collaboration, and a focus on student thinking. The strides made so far reflect the school’s investment in long-term, sustainable growth—and we look forward to the next chapter in their writing revolution.