At the IRA 57th Annual Convention in Chicago, many councils were honored at a special ceremony on Sunday, April 29, 2012 in Chicago Hilton & Towers’ International Ballroom.

The Award of Excellence is presented to those state and provincial councils that have distinguished themselves through organizing and implementing a wide range of programs and activities that, in their respective state or province, (1) serve and support councils, (2) contribute to education, and (3) coincide with and support the programs and goals of IRA.

The Honor Council program recognizes local, student and special interest councils that organize and conduct well-rounded programs serving both the council and the community. 

Below are Award of Excellence and Honor Council recipients listed alphabetically by state, territory, or Canadian province. The number listed designates the total number of years Honor Council status has been achieved. The Honor Council program began 30 years ago, so councils with "30 years" next to their name have achieved Honor Council status for the entirety of the program. 

Congratulations to all of these councils, and thank you for all of your hard work in the field of literacy! 

ALABAMA

Alabama Reading Association
Peggy S. Teel, President
Award of Excellence

Baldwin County Reading Council
Rose M. Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Elmore County Reading Council
Cindy Cochran, President
Honor Council - 6 years

Heritage Reading Council
Cathy Woodruff, President
Honor Council - 5 years

Jacksonville Reading Council
Lesley Ingram Bean, President
Honor Council - 5 years

Metro-Mobile Reading Council
Pamela McDade, President
Honor Council - 25 years

Northwest Alabama Council
Katie Kinney, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Rainbow Reading Council
Rachel Harbison, President
Honor Council - 22 years

Tennessee Valley Reading Council
Sharon Walker, President
Honor Council - 11 years

University of Mobile Reading Council
Candace Early, President
Honor Council - 5 years

ALASKA 

Cook Inlet Literacy Council
Jessica Willis, President
Honor Council - 18 years

ARIZONA

Arizona Reading Association
Nancy Jean Brown, President
Award of Excellence 

Central Arizona Reading Council
Carolee Sopicki, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Greater Paradise Valley Reading Council
Julie Berlin, President  
Honor Council - 14 years

Phoenix West Council
Melissa Sue Selby, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Tucson Area Reading Council
Kristin Maynard, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Yavapai Reading Council
Joan Masaryk, President
Honor Council - 4 years

ARKANSAS

Arkansas Reading Association
Paula Findley, President
Award of Excellence 

Arkadelphia Area Reading Council
Kaila Murphy, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Arkansas River Valley Reading Council
Sandra Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 3 years

Central Arkansas Council
Sarah Brown, President
Honor Council - 26 years

Grant County Reading Council
Tara Derby, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Jefferson County Council
Susan Bitely, President
Honor Council - 18 years

Mountain Home Area Reading Council
Marjorie Rosenkotter, President
Honor Council - 2 years

North Central Arkansas Reading Council
Jeanne Harvey, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Northeast Arkansas Council
Viola Snow, President
Honor Council - 12 years

Northwest Arkansas Council
Donna Owen, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Pinnacle Special Interest Reading Council
Francie Ross, President
Honor Council - 3 years

SEARK Reading Council
Julie Workman, President
Honor Council - 20 years

South Arkansas Reading Council
Dana Kelly, President
Honor Council - 16 years

Three Rivers Reading Council
Michele Newnum, President
Honor Council - 20 years

BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia Literacy Council
Carrie Froese, President
Award of Excellence 

CALIFORNIA

California Reading Association
Lynda Griblin, President
Award of Excellence

Alameda County Reading Association
Michele McKinley, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Contra Costa Reading Association
Grace Helen Maes, President
Honor Council - 28 years

East San Gabriel Valley Council
Gloria Ramos Gonzalez, President
Honor Council - 21 years

Gateway Reading Council
Nancy Rogers-Zegarra, President
Honor Council - 18 years

Greater San Diego Reading Association
Maureen Begley, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Inland Empire Reading Council
Loretta Cudney, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Kern Reading Association
Linda Stacey, President
Honor Council - 22 years

Orange County Reading Association
Laura Emerson, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Placer Area Reading Association
Taffy Maurer, President
Honor Council - 18 years

Sacramento Area Reading Council
Rosemary Rankin, President
Honor Council - 29 years

San Joaquin County Reading Association
Dr. Anne Werolin Weisenberg, President
Honor Council - 16 years

Santa Clara County Reading Council
Rachelle Romander, President
Honor Council - 29 years

COLORADO 

Colorado Council
Cynthia Bryant, President
Award of Excellence

Fort Collins Council  
Mary Stewart, President
Honor Council - 17 years

Jefferson County Council
Brian Fassbinder, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Honor Council - 24 years

Honor Council - 23 years

Honor Council - 24 years

CONNECTICUT 

Connecticut Association for Reading Research
Judy Stone Moeller, President
Honor Council - 8 years

Connecticut Northwest Council
Agnes Burns, President
Honor Council - 1 year

Greater Hartford Area Council
Laura Caruso, President
Honor Council - 14 years

Southeastern Council
Andrea Sadler, President
Honor Council - 12 years

DELAWARE 

Diamond State Reading Association
Maureen Keeney, President
Award of Excellence

IRA Student Literacy Council of the University of Delaware
Melanie Bugher, President
Honor Council - 2 years

Kent Council
Lindsay Osika, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Reading Council of Northern Delaware
Maureen Kenney and Mark Pietuszka, Presidents
Honor Council - 16 years

FLORIDA

Florida Reading Association
Maria Callis, President
Award of Excellence

Bay County Reading Association
Maggie Odom, President
Honor Council - 9 years

Duval County Reading Council
Lisa Wells, President
Honor Council - 24 years

Lee County Reading Council
Shannon Barone, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Okaloosa Reading Council
Angelle Crosby, President
Honor Council - 12 years

GEORGIA 

Georgia Reading Association
Sallie Mills, President
Award of Excellence

Henry Heritage Reading Council
Anita Beasley, President
Honor Council - 7 years

GUAM 

Guam Council
Neldie Pendon-Limtiaco, President
Honor Council - 16 years

ILLINOIS

Illinois Reading Council
Cynthia Wilson, President
Award of Excellence

Chicago Area Reading Association
Veronica Robinson, President
Honor Council - 19 years

East Central-EIU Reading Council
Jacquelynne Brosam, President
Honor Council - 15 years

Lewis & Clark Reading Council
Stephanie McAndrews, President
Honor Council - 9 years

Mid-State Reading Council
Teresa Arendell, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Northern Illinois Reading Council
Elizabeth Hoelting, President
Honor Council - 2 years

Prairie Area Reading Council
Ellen Kacic, President
Honor Council - 2 years

South Eastern Reading Council  
Theresa Coker, President
Honor Council - 3 years

Suburban Council  
Laura Polkoff, President
Honor Council - 18 years

Two Rivers Council
Priscilla Dwyer, President
Honor Council - 8 years

INDIANA 

Indiana State Reading Association
Jessica Heidelberg, President
Award of Excellence

East Central Indiana Council
Chyenne Wilder, President
Honor Council - 3 years

Evansville Area Reading Council
Laura Specht, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Gary Reading Council
Steven Mitchell, President
Honor Council - 26 years

Hamilton County Reading Council
Lori Silbert, President
Honor Council - 13 years

IOWA 

Iowa Reading Association
Julie Neal, President
Award of Excellence

Eastern Iowa Reading Council
Patricia Johnson, President
Honor Council - 14 years

Hardy Reading Council
Karla Bronzynski, President
Honor Council - 28 years

KANSAS 

Kansas Reading Association
Donna Knoell, President
Award of Excellence

Eisenhower Area Reading Council
Janelle Riedy, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Flint Hills Council
Dawn Moews, President
Honor Council - 15 years

Geary County Council
Diana Spriggs, President
Honor Council - 27 years

KENTUCKY

Kentucky Reading Association
Cindy Parker, President
Award of Excellence

Blue Grass Area Council
Lisa King, President
Honor Council - 4 years

Greater Louisville Council
Synthia Selby, President
Honor Council - 7 years

Jesse Stuart Council
Marcia Ellis, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Lake Cumberland Area Reading Council
Angela Ballinger, President
Honor Council - 5 years

Murray, Kentucky Area Council
Chhanda Islam, President
Honor Council - 3 years

Pennyrile Council
Peggy Stirsman, President
Honor Council - 1 year

Western Kentucky Council
Jennifer Montgomery, President
Honor Council - 25 years

LOUISIANA

Louisiana Reading Association
Deborah Rickards, President
Award of Excellence

Acadiana Reading Council
Christine Menard, President
Honor Council - 4 years 

North Louisiana Reading Council
Loretta Jaggers, President
Honor Council - 18 years 

Northeast Louisiana Reading Association
Dewanna Eady, President
Honor Council - 8 years

St. Charles Parish Council
Shannon Diodene, President
Honor Council - 23 years

Zachary Area Reading Council
Angela Cassard, President
Honor Council - 1 year

MANITOBA  

Manitoba Reading Association
Barb Galessiere, President
Award of Excellence

Manitoba Council of Reading Clinicians
Monique Gendre, President
Honor Council - 2 years

Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg
Cathy-Ann Winters, President
Honor Council - 26 years

MARYLAND  

State of Maryland IRA Council
Leslie Sunderland, President
Award of Excellence

Anne Arundel County Reading Council
Lenora Fox, President
Honor Council - 26 years

Baltimore County Council
Heather Hollenbeck, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Carroll Reading Council
Susan Schultz, President
Honor Council - 23 years

Eastern Shore Reading Council
Amanda Banks, President
Honor Council - 23 years

Garrett Reading Council
Ruth Georg, President
Honor Council - 10 years

Harford County Reading Council
Susan Bollinger, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Howard County Council
Maria Moy, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Mid-Shore Reading Council
Susan Frank, President
Honor Council - 16 years

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Reading Association
Nancy Witherell, President
Award of Excellence

Berkshire Reading Council
Catherine Salvini, President
Honor Council - 8 years

Cape Cod Council
Judith Werner, President 
Honor Council - 16 years

Central Massachusetts Reading Council
Martha Strachan, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Greater Boston Council
Jean Helstrom, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators
Pamela Mason, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Nobscot Council
Marlene Correia, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Phyllis Allen Smith North Shore Council
Irene Duros, President
Honor Council - 25 years

Southeast Regional Reading Council
Janice Standring, President
Honor Council - 23 years

MICHIGAN 

Michigan Reading Association
Sue Sharma, President
Award of Excellence

Kent Council
Robin MacQueen, President
Honor Council - 10 years

Wayne County Reading Council
Hakim Shahid, President
Honor Council - 28 years

MINNESOTA

Arrowhead Reading Council
Michelle Bowker, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Central Minnesota Reading Council
Sara Kathryn Martini, President
Honor Council - 17 years

Southwest Minnesota Reading Council
Cynthia Whaley, President
Honor Council - 16 years

MISSOURI

Missouri State Council
Terry Sherer, President
Award of Excellence 

Lee's Summit Reading Council
Jessica Cox, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Northwest Missouri Council
Suzanne Thomas, President
Honor Council - 16 years

Springfield Council
Kerri Lyn Bruce, President
Honor Council - 29 years

St. Louis Suburban Council
Mitzi Brammer, President
Honor Council - 28 years

MONTANA

Montana State Reading Council
Leslie Ferrell, President
Award of Excellence

Central Montana Reading Council
Jennifer McAllister, President
Honor Council - 15 years

Northeast Montana Council
Jane Kolstad, President
Honor Council - 10 years

NEBRASKA

Nebraska State Reading Association
Dennis Dubry, President
Award of Excellence

Central Nebraska Council
Rebecca Bartlett, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Metropolitan Reading Council
Laurie Schmidt, President
Honor Council - 29 years

NEW JERSEY 

Monmouth County Reading Council
Tara Barry, President
Honor Council - 16 years

Reading Council of Southern New Jersey
Christe Leakan, President
Honor Council - 19 years

West Jersey Reading Council
Susan Yoder, President
Honor Council - 29 years

NEW MEXICO 

New Mexico State Council
Sheri Leckie, President
Award of Excellence

Gadsden Council
Nancy Bellagamba, President
Honor Council - 14 years

NEW YORK

New York State Reading Association
Joanne Joyner-Wells, President
Award of Excellence 

Brooklyn Reading Council
Jacqueline Streets, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Central New York Council
Marguerite Sundberg, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Nassau Reading Council
Mary Dickinson, President
Honor Council - 24 years

Niagara Frontier Reading Council
Mary Beth Scumaci, President
Honor Council - 8 years

Rochester Area Council
Carole Pelttari, President
Honor Council - 3 years

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Reading Association
Mary Jo Floyd, President
Award of Excellence

Crystal Coast Reading Council
Dona Styron, President
Honor Council - 4 years

Moore County Council
Mary Ellen Skidmore, President
Honor Council - 24 years

Raleigh-Wake Council
Anita Stack and Jean House, Presidents
Honor Council - 22 years

Robeson County Reading Council
Anthony Spallino, President
Honor Council - 11 years

Twin Rivers Council
Janet Zinni, President
Honor Council - 20 years

NORTH DAKOTA

North Dakota Reading Association
Leslie Hagemeister, President
Award of Excellence

North Central Reading Council
Melessa Bosh, President
Honor Council - 23 years

South Central North Dakota Reading Council
Melody Alme, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Valley Council
Alyssa Gilbertson, President
Honor Council - 16 years

OHIO

Euclid Council
Hanna Harad Szabo, President
Honor Council - 27 years

OKLAHOMA 

Oklahoma Reading Association
Laura Anderson, President
Award of Excellence

Northwest Reading Council
Connie Wise, President
Honor Council - 18 years

Tulsa County Reading Council
Meagan Moreland, President
Honor Council - 28 years

OREGON

Oregon Reading Association
April Hoy, President
Award of Excellence

Capital Reading Council
Kathleen Moran, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Driftwood Reading Council
Melia Jasso, President
Honor Council - 7 years

Emerald Empire Council
Kacey Kintscher, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Mid-Valley Reading Council
Cheryl Graham, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Portland Council of the International Reading Association
Rebecca Bard, President
Honor Council - 26 years

Sunset Reading Council
Judy Fisher, President
Honor Council - 6 years

Three Sisters Reading Council
Mary Hawes, President
Honor Council - 9 years

Umpqua Reading Council
Sandra Wright, President
Honor Council - 7 years

Vineyard Valleys Reading Council
Heidi Reinker, President
Honor Council - 9 years

PENNSYLVANIA

Keystone State Reading Association
Bethann McCain, President
Award of Excellence

Chester County Reading Association
Carol Harris, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Colonial Association of Reading Educators Council
Dale Harper, President
Honor Council - 25 years

Delaware County Council
Annemarie Jay, President
Honor Council - 9 years

Delaware Valley Reading Association
Theresa Deckebach, President
Honor Council - 29 years

Erie Reading Council
Anna Landers, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Council
Karen Heisner, President
Honor Council - 23 years

Seneca Reading Council
Sarah Seaton, President
Honor Council - 21 years

Tri-County Reading Council
Stacie Michelle Yanez, President
Honor Council - 21 years

SASKATCHEWAN

Kewetin Nene Council
Debby Noble, President
Honor Council - 12 years

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina State Council
Faye Johnston, President
Award of Excellence

Berkeley Reading Council
Cathy Delaney, President
Honor Council - 21 years

Cherokee Reading Council
Tina Morris, President
Honor Council - 12 years

Columbia Area Reading Council
Beth Gilbert, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Edgefield Reading Council
Melinda Zipf, President
Honor Council - 3 years

Georgetown County Reading Council
Cynthia Kennington, President
Honor Council - 5 years

Greenville Area Council
Donna Tesner, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Laurens County Reading Council
Eddie Marshall, President
Honor Council - 11 years

Newberry County Reading Council
Rebekah Bruyere, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Palmetto Council
Mary Freeman, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Piedmont Reading Council
Denise Schweikart, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Saluda Reading Council
Ashley Brooke Oxner, President
Honor Council - 14 years

Spartanburg County Council
Amanda Cox, President
Honor Council - 16 years

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Reading Association
Deborah Setliff, President
Award of Excellence

Benton County Reading Association
Judith Matheny, President
Honor Council - 7 years

North Central Council
Mary Truka, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Smoky Mountain Reading Council
Liz Norton, President
Honor Council - 22 years

Tennessee Tech Council
Kim Wright, President
Honor Council - 27 years

VIRGINIA

Virginia State Reading Association
Jennifer Jones, President
Award of Excellence

Chesapeake Reading Council
Erin Stephens Royster, President
Honor Council - 27 years

Greater Washington Reading Council
Tiffany Lynne Brocious, President
Honor Council - 30 years

New River Valley Reading Council
Peggy Kincaid, President
Honor Council - 20 years

Newport News Reading Council
Sherry Edbauer, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Piedmont Area Reading Council
Joyce Spencer, President
Honor Council - 17 year

Portsmouth Council
Lisa Blount, President
Honor Council - 13 year

Richmond Area Reading Council
Caroline Head, President
Honor Council - 30 years

Roanoke Valley Council
Charles Richards, President
Honor Council - 24 years

Shenandoah Valley Reading Council
Anne Perdue, President
Honor Council - 23 years

Virginia Beach Reading Council
Eva Bryant, President
Honor Council - 30 years

WASHINGTON  

Washington Organization for Reading Development (WORD)
Kristin Elizabeth Wobker Courtney, President
Award of Excellence 

City of Seattle Council  
Dr. Denise Gudwin, President
Honor Council - 2 years

Lake Washington Council
Megan Porter, President
Honor Council - 22 years

WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia Reading Association
Kimberly Burris, President
Award of Excellence

Brooke County Reading Council
Dr. Maryann Ehle, President
Honor Council - 6 years

Cabell County Reading Council
Summer James, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Harrison County Reading County Chrisanne Diaz, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Lincoln County Reading Council  
Carol Turley, President
Honor Council - 1 year

Marion County Reading Council
Twyla Rote, President
Honor Council - 28 years

Marshall County Reading Council
Jennifer Lipinski, President
Honor Council - 12 years

Mason County Reading Council
Elaine Hussell, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Roane County Reading Council
Bruce Neal, President
Honor Council - 7 years

Webster County Highlander Reading Council
Tila Boyce, President
Honor Council - 13 years

Wood County Reading Council
Lois Meadows, President
Honor Council - 26 years

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin State Reading Association
Sandra Vander Velden, President
Award of Excellence

Headwaters Reading Council
Colleen Konicek and Brian Perriodin, Presidents
Honor Council - 16 years

Madison Area Reading Council
Janet Farnan and Robin Umber, Presidents
Honor Council - 21 years

Mid-East Area Reading Council
Emily Schwanke, President
Honor Council - 19 years

Tennessee’s Cheatham County Reading Council (CCRC) honored student authors from across the county on April 24 at the Pegram Elementary School library.

Each spring, the CCRC invites students from schools in Cheatham County to submit books that they have written, illustrated, and “published” (covered and bound to look like published books). Acceptable literature genres include original tales, personal narratives, fables, allegories, parables, legends, biographical sketches, and tall tales. The program is open to children of all ages. “Books may be selected from any classroom in a school system grades K-12,” says former CCRC Celebrate Literacy chairperson Charles Wallace. 

This year students submitted 138 original books to the program judges. Books were judged using a rubric designed by the Tennessee Reading Association (TRA), a state council of the International Reading Association (IRA). 

After local evaluation, CCRC selected the top 14 books to be sent to the TRA for evaluation on the state level. 

Winning Authors 

Rachel Welsh, an eighth-grader at Cheatham Middle School, received a gold medal. She has submitted an entry each year since she was in second grade. 

Silver medal winners were Lauren Moore, Megan Rich, Will Collier, Maranda Huffman, and Echo O’Connor from Pegram Elementary School. The silver medal winners from Ashland City Elementary School were Aviana Gordon, Rachel Sherman, Landon Hunter, Christian DePriest, and Jose Matos. Harpeth Middle School silver medal winners were Jenna Williams, Liam Miles, and Abigail Warren. 

Student authors that did not win a medal were presented with a certificate for their participation.

Pictured are 10 of the 14 winners from the county's elementary and middle schools. 

History of the Event 

In 1983, IRA invited state councils to “Celebrate Literacy” within their states. TRA asked Dr. Elizabeth Brashears of Middle Tennessee State University to develop Tennessee’s plan for celebrating literacy. Brashears envisioned a program for Tennessee’s children in grades K-12 to fully create and publish their own books right down to the sturdy binding.

In the spring of 1984, local TRA councils were invited to submit seven books to the state, and Olympic-style medals (gold, silver, and bronze) were awarded.

However, Brashears disliked using the word “contest” to describe the program because her ultimate goal was to celebrate every student who participated. Therefore, each local council was to hold its own event so that authors would be recognized for their work. 

About the Cheatham County Reading Council

CCRC President Mary Ellen doValle, an Education Specialist at Ashland City Elementary School, says that the council participates in Read Across America and Ages and Stages, an early child development project. Cheatham County Reading Council also recently received TRA Community Service Project Grants. Cheatham County Reading Council prepared and gave a PowerPoint presentation in collaboration with the county’s Family Involvement Coordinator that emphasized the importance of reading from pre-birth to death. The PowerPoint was presented at the “Ages and Stages” program which focuses on birth to 4 years of age. To further promote interest in reading among the young the council had appearances by the Cat in the Hat and Kermit, the Frog. The council provided the costumes for these characters. Contact Mary Ellen doValle to join or for more information. 

About the Tennessee Reading Association 

The TRA has 14 local councils and is a member council of IRA. The Association offers membership scholarships, grants, and award opportunities, including the TRA State Conference Scholarship, the Academic Scholarship, Community Service Project Grants, Reading Improvement Grants, Support Storytelling Grants, Celebrate Literacy, Newspaper in Education, Recognition of outstanding literacy professionals, and Honor Councils. Members receive three online newsletters each year providing them information on local and state issues and professional literacy articles. Members also receive the annual TRA peer-reviewed professional journal, Tennessee Reading Teacher. TRA hosts an annual conference, and members receive discounts on registration fees. The 2012 conference is December 2 to 4 in Murfreesboro. Their new website at www.tnreads.org features information and registration access to the conference, past journal and newsletter issues, committee information and forms, and application forms for scholarships and grants. Contact President Kathy Brashears to join or for more information. 

On February 3 and 4, 2012, the Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE) had a summit/conference in San Antonio based on the theme “What’s Hot in Literacy for 2012.” This theme, in turn, was based on the annual survey “What’s Hot in Literacy” which has been appearing in Reading Today for over 15 years. For information, see www.literacysummitwhatshot2012.com.

An IRA state association conference is hardly surprising—many have conferences. However, this association did not even exist six months prior to the conference.

Jack Cassidy, Stephanie Grote-Garcia, and
Denise Staudt

Some History

In May 2011, the Texas State Reading Association (TSRA) formally disbanded after 40 years of operation. TSRA had severe financial difficulties as well as problems recruiting and retaining officers.

Many people, including former IRA President Jack Cassidy, were dismayed that Texas would now be the only state that would not have an IRA-affiliated state association. With the blessing of some former TSRA leaders, Cassidy assembled a group of educators at his house in late August, 2011 to discuss the formation of a new organization.

From that group, TALE emerged. James Hoffman from the University of Texas, a former IRA Board member, surveyed educators from around the state to ascertain what role a state association should play. Hosting a conference was one of the high priority activities revealed in the survey.

Literacy Summit

It soon became obvious that any state conference from this new association could not succeed without some outside help. Therefore, Cassidy proposed that the conference be co-sponsored by two other groups: the Specialized Literacy Professionals Special Interest Group (SLP) and the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in San Antonio.

Dr. Denise Staudt, Dean of the Dreeben School of Education at UIW, became an enthusiastic supporter of the event. UIW agreed to provide meeting rooms at their beautiful downtown campus and the Specialized Literacy Professionals SIG agreed to publicize the event nationally and get major speakers. Thus, virtually, all of the featured and keynote speakers, as well as many of the session speakers, came from the ranks of the SIG.

Educators from over 15 states presented. Enthusiasm for the conference ran high, and over 200 attendees from around the country were present. Dr. Jerry Johns, Northern Illinois University, a former IRA President, agreed to be the opening speaker. Dr. P. David Pearson, University of California at Berkeley and chair of IRA’s newly formed Literacy Research Panel, keynoted on Saturday. Dr. Karen Bromley, State University at Binghamton and a current member of the IRA Board, was the closing keynote speaker.

The Summit was co-chaired by Dr. Jack Cassidy and Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia from UIW. In connection with the Summit, Cassidy and Garcia also edited a book entitled Literacy Trends and Issues: What’s Hot, which is published by Kendall Hunt. The book contains brief chapters on the eight “hot” issues in literacy for 2012.

Each chapter is written by a SIG member including chapters by Cassidy, Grote-Garcia, and Jill Lewis-Spector, newly elected Vice President of IRA. The book was first introduced at the conference. Financially all three groups shared equally in the profits from the summit and profits from the book were shared by TALE and the SIG.

As Jill Lewis-Spector observed, “The inaugural TALE conference in San Antonio this February provided a wide range of speakers and topics, offering all attendees opportunities for exceptional professional development. I was thrilled to be a part of it!”

Dr. Bromley, as the IRA official representative to the conference said, “I was thrilled and energized by the 'Literacy Summit' held recently in San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word. The opportunity to hear outstanding speakers present on a range of “hot” topics was a huge plus. But, it was also exciting to see over 200 people in attendance who joined and are excited about the new Texas Association for Literacy Educators (TALE).”

The Texas Association for Literacy Education

At the conclusion of the Summit, Cassidy presented Dr. Bromley with the formal application to be officially chartered as an IRA affiliated group. Dr. Bromley took that application to the IRA Board at its meeting on February 25 and the group was officially chartered.

Cassidy is the President of the new organization, Carolyn Denny from the Northside School District in San Antonio is the President-elect, and Sharon O’Neal from Texas State University in Round Rock is the Vice President. Sheri Vasinda from Texas A&M University Commerce is the Secretary of the group, and Stephanie Grote-Garcia from the University of the Incarnate Word is the Treasurer.

Since the conference, the Executive Committee has had one meeting and is working on developing publications and other services for its members. Dr. Vasinda has established a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/texasreaders.org, and Dr. Grote-Garcia has established a webpage at www.texasreaders.org where interested potential members can obtain an application.

This article is reprinted from the April/May 2012 issue of Reading Today, the International Reading Association's bimonthly member magazine. Members: click here to read the issue. Nonmembers: join now!

Nance Wilson from the International Reading Association's Middle School Reading Special Interest Group (MSR-SIG) shares the groups exciting projects and activities. 

1. Are you especially proud of any of your SIG's projects?

One SIG project I am especially proud of is our efforts to link middle level authors with teachers and students. Beginning in 2010 we partnered with the author presenting at the annual convention with a classroom teacher. Throughout the year leading up to the conference, the teacher reads the author’s work with her students using interactive, interpersonal, and inquiry techniques. As the teacher finishes her study of the text, the students engage in a Skype session with the author. The lessons learned by both author and students are presented at the annual conference each year.  

This year we are excited to share lessons learned from using integrated technology, questioning, and collaboration from a fifth and eighth grade classroom. The fifth grade teacher, Monique Myers, will share a unit centered around the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, in which her students worked in literature circles to engage in discussions around the text, used iPads to research the facts behind the books, and prepared engaging in classroom presentations to share each of their texts. The eighth grade teacher, Bernadette Thompson, created a unit centered on Adam Gidwitz's novel A Tale Dark and Grimm to have students research multiple versions of the Hansel and Gretel tale, analyze narrative voice, and use an online Blog to facilitate discussion about the text within and beyond the classroom walls. 

A second MSR-SIG project that I am proud of speaks to the contributions and talents of our membership. Our newsletter boasts of regular columns such as Book Lists for Middle Grade Readers (by Melanie Koss) and Eye on Disciplinary Literacy (by Vassiliki Zygouris-Coe). Our biannual newsletter boasts peer reviewed articles that support the teaching of literacy across the curriculum for middle grade readers.

2. What are the benefits of joining your SIG? 

The biggest benefit to joining MSR-SIG is having access to professional development opportunities focused specifically on Middle Grades literacy as well as learning from the expertise of our members. Our membership is distributed between classroom teachers, literacy researchers, and librarians.   The goal of our SIG is to disseminate pertinent information and research on middle school reading, serve as a forum for expressing varying viewpoints on middle school reading, and promote an interest in further research in the field of middle level reading. In addition to having the opportunity to work with and learn from people across the country, registered members receive our SIG newsletter two times each year and can submit proposals to present at our annual MSR-SIG session.

3. Are there any future projects in store for your SIG?

One exciting new goal of the MSR-SIG is to create more dialogue among the membership throughout the years. For instance, we invite all middle grades teachers (4-9) to participate in our survey to determine what books are being taught in the middle grades classrooms. If you are a middle grades teacher, please take a moment to complete a brief 12 question survey by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/62HT57K to participate, or feel free to pass the link along to a middle grades teacher that you know. Through this investigation we hope to learn more about the books being used in classrooms and to provide support for the teachers using them.

In addition, we want to find more ways to effectively share our resources and meet the needs of classroom teachers through increased communication between the members. We have a Facebook page for members to share their thoughts and ideas as well as a website for distributing information from past newsletters to booklists.

4. How does one join your SIG? 

The easiest way to join our SIG is to visit IRA’s MSR-SIG website. From here, you can go to the membership page to print the one page registration form and mail it with your $10 annual registration fee to our membership chair, Billie Jo Dunaway. Her contact information is included at the bottom of the form. Please note that you must be a member of IRA in order to join the MSR-SIG. There is also space on the form to indicate your interest in serving as a MSR-SIG committee member.

5. Is there a website, newsletter, or another way to find more information about your SIG? Is there a person that prospective members can contact?

To learn more about the MSR-SIG, you can download a recent newsletter from our Reading in the Middle link at the MSR-SIG website. To learn more about our SIG, you can contact me (Nance S. Wilson, President of the MSR-SIG) at msrsig@gmail.com. For more information about our newsletter, you can contact our editorial team at msrsig@gmail.com.