CV

Education

Master of Arts in English Education, Columbia University, Teachers College, New York City, NY, 2018.
Thesis: Honoring the Aesthetic Experience of Literature: How Secondary Students Describe Experiences of and Respond to Literary Texts

Bachelor of Arts in English Teaching, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 2010.
Honors: A. John Clarke Fellowship, McKay School of Education, 2008-2010; Office of Research and Creative Activities Research Grant Recipient, 2010.

Teaching

English, Advanced Placement, & Creative Writing Teacher. Kwajalein Schools through Vectrus International LOGCAP V, Kwajalein Junior/Senior High School, United States Army Garrison- Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. 2021-present.

English, Advanced Placement English Language & Composition Teacher, Curriculum Developer & Evaluator, Swim Coach. Weber School District, UT. 2018- 2020.

English Language & Literature Teacher. Salt Lake City School District, UT. 2016-2018. 

English, Remedial Reading, & Journalism Teacher. Canyons School District, Cottonwood Heights, UT.  2010-2012, 2015-16.

Grants & Awards

National Endowment of the Humanities Making the Good Reader and Citizen Fellowship, 2023.

ELATE James Moffett Memorial Research Award, NCTE, 2022. 

Central Utah Writing Project Summer Institute Fellowship, 2019.

Publications

Sorensen, W. (2023). “Poetry on the Beach: Localizing Literary Value in a Pacific Island Nation.” English Journal. 

Sorensen, W. (2021). “Honoring the Experience of Literature: Secondary English Students Describe Experiences of and Respond to Literature.” AERA OPEN. 

Sorensen, W. (2013). “The Effectiveness of Reading Strategies in a Secondary English Classroom.” Journal of Undergraduate Research. Brigham Young University. 

Presentations

2023 Articulating Ideas & Identities: Connections between Personal and Academic Discourse in Student Publications. NCTE, ELATE Research. 

2023 Making Reading Strategies Visible. Pathways Project Conference. University of California Irvine, Pathways Project with National Writing Project.

2021 Honoring the Experience of Literature: Secondary English Students Describe Experiences of and Respond to Literature. AERA, SIG-Teacher as Researcher.

2019 Evaluating the Use of Technology in Effective Instruction. BrainBlast Conference, Weber School District.

2019 Teaching a Novel Unit: Richard Wright’s Native Son. Weber School District.

2018 Poetry & Inquiry. Salt Lake City School District.

2017 Teaching Argument Writing. Salt Lake City School District. 

2012 High Yielding Strategies for Secondary Literacy Practices.  HYPE Conference, Canyons School District.

2011 Structure of a Secondary Reading and Literature Classroom, Literacy Academy of Canyons School District.

Professional Affiliations

National Council of Teachers of English, 2009-present.

Central Utah Writing Project, 2009-present. 

American Education Research Association, 2020-present. 

Involvement

World Aquatics Coach Certification, 2024.

American Swimming Coaches Association Certification, 2024.

Co-Director Micronesian Games Swimming, Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. 2023-2024.

Head Coach and Board Member, Kwajalein Swim Club, 2021-present.