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Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Central Texas Writing Project

Directors

lori assaf

Dr. Lori Czop Assaf, Professor

Co-Director

Dr. Assaf is a Professor in Reading Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and currently teaches the Study Abroad Program to South Africa. As a former Reading Specialist for thirteen years, Dr. Assaf has focused most of her research on teacher professional development, writing instruction, and language learning. Currently, she is conducting research on teachers’ generative learning and South African students’ aspirational community wealth while participating in a career focused dream search writing project. Dr. Assaf is committed to international collaboration specifically on culturally mediated writing instruction across the disciplines and professional development for pre-service and in-service teachers.

Dr. Assaf served as CTWP Director in 2009-2016; she will be Director again in 2026. 

valerie taylor

Dr. Valerie Taylor, Professor

Co-Director

Valerie Taylor is currently a PhD Candidate in the Language and Literacy Program in the Curriculum & Instruction Department at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2021, she retired from her work as a 36-year career as a high school English teacher and instructional coach. In her work as an instructional coach, Valerie worked with teachers in all disciplines, focusing on collaborative learning, disciplinary literacy, and Universal Design for Learning. She is also former Co-Director of the Heart of Texas Writing Project and a Past-President of the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts. Her research focuses on writing identities of pre-service and inservice teachers and their students and the use of collaborative inquiry as a way of learning. She is committed to continuous and joyful learning alongside others.