This magazine, for example. We announced in
April the decision to discontinue the print version
of Literacy Today. There are several reasons
for this, but one of the driving factors is that a
number of members receive their subscriptions at
their schools or universities—buildings they won’t
be entering again for an indeterminate amount of
time.
Innovation was another factor. For the past
few issues, we’ve been testing features for the
digital version, such as adding exclusive online
content and embedding links to videos. We asked
ourselves what we could do if we weren’t limited
by print. How could we increase value to members
by shifting our efforts in this other direction? The
possibilities excited us.
Around the time we were having discussions,
we received word from Wiley, the publishing
company that prints and distributes our journals,
that they would be shifting to a digital-only
format until COVID-related restrictions eased and
operations could resume as normal. Although this
didn’t directly influence our decision about Literacy
Today, it did underscore for us that there were
definite advantages to a digital publication that
didn’t depend on print presses and postal service.
We applied this kind of thinking to other areas
as well, such as our conference, set to take place
from October 15–18 in Columbus, OH. From the
beginning, when early reports of this devastating
virus surfaced, our staff has been in close contact
with key officials from the city of Columbus, the
Ohio Department of Education, and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We have
been tracking guidelines and recommendations
from the CDC and the World Health Organization.
Even though the event wasn’t scheduled until
October, we knew from the start we did not want
to put on a conference that wasn’t safe for our
attendees, exhibitors, and staff.
Safety has been a top concern of ours from
the start. On March 1, ILA suspended travel for
staff and members of the Board of Directors.
Not long after, we went to a 100% remote work
environment. We also increased the flexibility
of our workday to ease the burden on families
impacted by sudden and wholly unexpected
closures of schools and childcare facilities.
On March 23, Delaware Governor John
Carney issued a shelter-in-home order for the
state (where our headquarters is located) to remain
in effect until May 15. At the time, it was one of
the more conservative measures taken. Carney
told reporters, “I don’t want Delaware to be the
example of what not to do in this crisis.”
We can say the same for ILA: We do not want
to be an example of what not to do. And so in the
end, we made the heartbreaking but necessary
decision to cancel this year’s conference.
Many organizations facing similar scenarios
have opted to relocate their in-person events to
virtual platforms or create hybrid conferences with
both face-to-face and digital components. We
considered those options but ultimately decided to
go in a different direction.
At the time of this publication, we are working
on a new model for professional learning—one
that allows us to be incredibly responsive to what
is going on in your classrooms, your schools, your
communities, and the world at large.
It takes some of the best of what an ILA
conference traditionally offers and combines it
with new, progressive formats that provide a deep,
personalized learning experience. In addition,
we’ll be launching new members-only benefits in
the coming months, including digital resources
informed by responses received from the 2020
What’s Hot in Literacy survey.
Right now, when everything is or feels at least a
little new, we at ILA are embracing the opportunity
to turn to a blank page. What we were is no longer
as important as who we can, should, and will be.
In the eight years since I became the executive
director at ILA, I don’t know that I have ever felt
so much possibility and promise. I sincerely hope
that each and every one of you joins us in forging
this new path and, in the
process, help us be better
in service to you and our
profession.
Marcie Craig Post
ILA Executive Director
LITERACY TODAY | May/June 2020 | literacyworldwide.org