Ruth Culham, Ed.D., is President of The Culham Writing Company and former Assessment Program Unit Manager at Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in Portland, Oregon. As a pioneering researcher of the 6+1 TRAIT model, she conducts workshops, organizes national and international institutes, and writes extensively on writing assessment and instruction. Prior to joining NWREL, Ruth was English Teacher of the Year in Montana, a highlight of her 19-year teaching career. She is the author of 6+1 Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide, Grades 3 and Up, as well as many other trait-related teacher resources.