Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Teachers & Writers Collaborative is a New York City nonprofit that places writers and other artists in schools to support imaginative writing education.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Teachers & Writers Collaborative, commonly known as Teachers & Writers or T&W, is a New York City nonprofit organization focused on creative-writing education, artist-led learning, and professional development for teachers. Its central premise is that practicing writers and other artists can make a distinctive contribution to the teaching of writing when they work directly with students and collaborate closely with classroom educators. The organization was founded in 1967 during a period of experimentation in American education and public-school reform. Its founding group included Herbert Kohl, who became the first director, as well as poets and writers including June Jordan, Muriel Rukeyser, Grace Paley, and Anne Sexton. The founders were dissatisfied with rote approaches to public-school pedagogy and sought to introduce more imaginative, participatory methods of teaching language and literature. Early financial support came from federal government education and science-policy initiatives associated with the White House Office of Science and Technology and the United States Office of Education. T&W's first major project took place at Manhattan's P.S. 75, where workshops were coordinated by Phillip Lopate. The model placed writers in schools for sustained residencies rather than treating literature as an abstract subject removed from the act of writing. Although the approach initially encountered resistance from some school administrators and faculty, collaboration with host schools helped the program become more stable and accepted by 1971. The concept subsequently influenced the wider Artists-in-the-Schools movement, which developed in schools across the United States. Over its history, T&W has delivered writing residencies, classroom programs, teacher-training sessions, after-school activities, literacy initiatives, public events, and educational media. The organization reports that its programs have reached more than 760,000 students and 26,000 teachers in the New York tri-state region, with approximately 10,000 students participating at its more recent annual rate. Its publishing activity has produced more than 80 books concerning creative-writing pedagogy and classroom practice. Teachers & Writers Magazine was published quarterly from 1967 through 2014 and later continued in online form. The organization has also maintained a public-facing literary and educational role. In 1985 it opened the Center for Imaginative Writing, a resource library and meeting place for teachers, students, writers, and the general public. A later center in Manhattan's Garment District hosted readings, book events, and workshops after the organization moved there in 2006. T&W relocated to Brooklyn in 2019. Teachers & Writers has been shaped by a large community of writers, editors, educators, and board members. Among the contributors associated with its programs or publications are Rosellen Brown, Victor Hernández Cruz, Kenneth Koch, Robert B. Silvers, Lennox Raphael, Jesús Papoleto Meléndez, Sam Swope, Matthew Sharpe, Susan Mernit, Meredith Sue Willis, and Bill Zavatsky. Ron Padgett edited Teachers & Writers Magazine from 1980 to 2000 and served as director of publications for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Asari Beale became executive director in 2019. The organization remains an active education-and-literature nonprofit rather than a consumer product brand.
History
Teachers & Writers Collaborative emerged from the educational experimentation and social movements of the 1960s. Its founders believed that conventional school instruction often reduced writing to mechanical exercises and that working writers could bring a more exploratory, culturally engaged, and practice-based approach to the classroom. The organization developed in the orbit of education-reform discussions connected to lectures at Tufts University hosted by Jerrold R. Zacharias, an MIT professor and education reformer with links to the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Early support was provided through federal government initiatives, including funding associated with the White House Office of Science and Technology and the United States Office of Education. Founded in 1967, Teachers & Writers initially brought together writers and educators including Herbert Kohl, June Jordan, Muriel Rukeyser, Grace Paley, and Anne Sexton. Kohl served as founding director. The first project was established at Manhattan's P.S. 75, with Phillip Lopate coordinating workshops. Rather than simply inviting authors to give occasional talks, the organization developed a residency model in which writers worked with students over time and collaborated with classroom teachers. This approach became an important example of the Artists-in-the-Schools movement and helped inspire comparable programs in schools across all 50 states. The early model was not immediately accepted everywhere. Some teachers and administrators questioned whether outside artists could fit into established school structures or contribute effectively to instructional goals. Through sustained cooperation with host-school personnel, Teachers & Writers developed a more stable institutional role by 1971. Its methods and philosophy were further influenced by writers such as Rosellen Brown, Victor Hernández Cruz, Kenneth Koch, and Robert B. Silvers, alongside the founders and early program leaders. Steven Schrader served as executive director from 1969 until 1979, when Nancy Larson Shapiro assumed the position. Shapiro led the organization for 26 years, making her tenure one of the defining periods in its institutional history. During these decades, T&W expanded beyond residencies into teacher professional development, publications, public programming, literacy work, and educational broadcasting. Its publication program eventually produced more than 80 books on teaching creative writing and related classroom practices. The organization's magazine was a central part of its intellectual identity. Teachers & Writers Magazine began in 1967 and was published quarterly on a continuing basis until 2014. Ron Padgett served as editor from 1980 to 2000 and was also the organization's director of publications from approximately 1982 to 1999. The magazine provided a venue for practical teaching ideas, reflections on literature and pedagogy, and discussion of imaginative approaches to writing instruction. It later continued in online form. In 1985, Teachers & Writers opened the Center for Imaginative Writing. The center functioned as a resource library and meeting place for students, teachers, writers, and members of the public. In the early 1980s the organization moved its headquarters from 186 West 4th Street to 5 Union Square West. After Amy Swauger became executive director in 2005, T&W continued its programming and received a share of a Carnegie Corporation grant distributed among New York City arts and social-service organizations. In 2006 it moved to Manhattan's Garment District and opened a new Center for Imaginative Writing, which hosted readings, book parties, and workshops. T&W also developed newer institutional programs. Beginning in 2004, it administered the annual Bechtel Prize, endowed by the Cerimon Fund in honor of Louise Seaman Bechtel. The prize recognizes writing about classroom teaching, innovative approaches to literary forms and genres, or the relationship between literature and imaginative writing. The winning essay appears in Teachers & Writers Magazine, and the recipient receives a $1,000 honorarium. In 2019, Asari Beale became executive director and the organization moved to Brooklyn. Its reported reach grew to more than 760,000 students and 26,000 teachers in the New York tri-state area over the course of its history, with approximately 10,000 students served annually at the rate cited in reference material. Teachers & Writers Collaborative continues to operate as a nonprofit connecting professional artists with schools and educators through residencies, workshops, publications, and community-oriented literacy programs.
- 2019
Leadership and headquarters change
[1]Asari Beale becomes executive director, and Teachers & Writers moves its headquarters to Brooklyn.
- 2014
Quarterly print magazine run ends
[1]The organization's quarterly magazine completes its continuous print-publication run and continues in online form.
- 2006
New Manhattan center opens
[1]Following a move to Manhattan's Garment District, T&W opens a new Center for Imaginative Writing for readings, book events, and workshops.
- 2005
Amy Swauger becomes executive director
[1]Amy Swauger succeeds Nancy Larson Shapiro as executive director.
- 2004
Bechtel Prize administration begins
[1]Teachers & Writers begins administering the annual Bechtel Prize for writing about creative-writing education and innovative classroom practice.
- 1985
Center for Imaginative Writing opens
[1]T&W opens a resource library and meeting space for teachers, students, writers, and the general public.
- 1979
Nancy Larson Shapiro becomes executive director
[1]Nancy Larson Shapiro takes over executive leadership, beginning a 26-year tenure.
- 1971
School-program model gains stability
[1]After initial resistance from some school personnel, sustained collaboration with host schools helps establish the residency model.
- 1969
Steven Schrader begins executive-director tenure
[1]Steven Schrader succeeds the founding leadership and serves as executive director until 1979.
- 1967
Teachers & Writers Collaborative is founded
[1]A group of writers and educators, including Herbert Kohl, June Jordan, Muriel Rukeyser, Grace Paley, and Anne Sexton, establishes the organization to advance imaginative writing education.
Products and positioning
An artist-led education nonprofit that connects practicing writers and other artists with schools, teachers, and students to make writing instruction more imaginative, participatory, and connected to lived experience.
Education program · 1967
School Writing Residencies
The organization's core offering places practicing writers and other artists in schools for sustained work with students and teachers. Residencies are designed to make writing an active practice, encourage experimentation, and connect classroom instruction with the methods and perspectives of working artists.
Teacher training
Professional Development Workshops
T&W provides workshops and related learning opportunities for educators seeking imaginative approaches to teaching writing, literature, genres, and classroom composition. The programs extend the organization's artist-in-school philosophy to teachers' own professional practice.
Educational publication · 1967
Teachers & Writers Magazine
The magazine documents and debates creative-writing pedagogy, classroom practice, and the relationship between literature and education. It was published quarterly from 1967 through 2014 and subsequently continued in online form.
Books and teaching resources
Creative-Writing Pedagogy Books
Teachers & Writers has published more than 80 books concerning the teaching of creative writing. These resources translate artist-led classroom experience into practical materials and broader reflections on writing instruction.
Writing and education award · 2004
Bechtel Prize
Administered by T&W since 2004, the annual Bechtel Prize recognizes an essay addressing contemporary classroom teaching, innovative treatment of literary forms or genres, or the connection between literature and imaginative writing. The winning essay is published by Teachers & Writers and the author receives a $1,000 honorarium.
Literary and educational resource center · 1985
Center for Imaginative Writing
The center has served as a resource library and public gathering place for teachers, students, writers, and the wider community. Its programming has included readings, book parties, workshops, and other literary-education events.
Marketing campaigns
- 2004Bechtel Prize
United States
T&W began administering an annual prize for essays on creative-writing education and innovative classroom practice.
Outcome. The selected essay is published in Teachers & Writers Magazine and its author receives a $1,000 honorarium.
- 1967Artists-in-the-Schools writing residency model
New York City
Teachers & Writers established a sustained school-residency approach in which writers worked directly with students and collaborated with classroom teachers. The model became an influential example of artist participation in public education.
Outcome. The approach helped inform similar Artists-in-the-Schools programs in schools across the United States.
Brand decisions
2019
Move to BrooklynStrategyBackground
After decades of operating from Manhattan locations, Teachers & Writers changed its headquarters location.
Action taken
The organization relocated to Brooklyn while also appointing Asari Beale as executive director.
Aftermath
The move marked a new phase in the organization's institutional and leadership history; its longer-term operational effects are not detailed in the available material.
2006
Relocation and expansion of the Center for Imaginative WritingStrategyBackground
Teachers & Writers continued expanding its public literary and educational role after Amy Swauger became executive director in 2005.
Action taken
The organization moved to Manhattan's Garment District and opened a new Center for Imaginative Writing hosting readings, book events, and workshops.
Aftermath
The new site provided a dedicated setting for public programming before the organization later moved its headquarters to Brooklyn in 2019.
Recent events
- 2019
Teachers & Writers relocates to Brooklyn[1]
Other
The organization moved its headquarters from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
- 2019
Asari Beale becomes executive director[1]
Leadership change
Asari Beale succeeded Amy Swauger as executive director of Teachers & Writers Collaborative.
- 2005
Teachers & Writers receives Carnegie Corporation support[1]
Other
Teachers & Writers was among New York City arts and social-service institutions sharing a Carnegie Corporation grant funded through a donation associated with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Sources2 sources
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