Colleen Patrice Clark
Managing Editor
cclark@reading.org
EDITOR’S
NOTE
o me, the next best thing to attending the
ILA conference, as an ILA staff member,
is putting together the conference issue of
Literacy Today.
Attending conference is an amazing
experience. It’s when we get to interact
with our members face to face and see
the hard work of our programming and
meetings and events teams come to
fruition. Speaking of which, check out
page 16 for our behind-the-scenes feature
on just how much preparation goes into
creating the conference.
What I love about this issue, though,
is that it’s when the countdown really
begins. It’s when I learn more about our
speakers and their powerful words that lie
ahead.
The features on this year’s General
Session speakers will get you excited
about their message too. Starting with
author and early literacy advocate
Chelsea Clinton on page 20, you’ll find
her thoughts on how words empower the
next generation to take action. On page
24, you’ll get a peek at researcher and
equity advocate Pedro Noguera’s Twitter
presence. If he can inspire change and
legions of followers in 280 characters or
fewer, just imagine what his keynote will
be like.
On page 28, you’ll hear from author
Renée Watson, as she shares a personal
account of how coming to understand
the power of her own words changed
her life. And, finally, on page 32, you’ll
meet Hamish Brewer, an award-winning
principal whose philosophy comes down
to one word: relentless.
Take in their words, and get ready
to join us in New Orleans where there
are 500+ speakers who have important
messages to share. Get inspired, be sure to
network, and don’t be afraid to share your
own ideas. Remember: Your words have
power too.
Warmly,
THE POWER OF WORDS
The International Literacy Association invites applications from qualified
members for the position of editors of The Reading Teacher (RT). This prestigious
editorship functions as a two-person team of either two coeditors or one editor
with one associate editor. These volunteer positions have a term of 6 years: The
first year overlaps with the current editorial team, and the subsequent years
constitute the volumes for which the new editors provide material.
Editor search open: August 1, 2019
Application deadline: October 15, 2019
Term: June 1, 2020, to May 31, 2026
Volumes: 75 through 79, publishing July 2021 through May 2026
RT is the leading peer-reviewed journal for educators of literacy learners up to age 12. Its special
emphasis is primary and elementary classroom instruction, and its readership consists of school-based
educators, university researchers and scholars, literacy consultants, administrators, and policymakers.
Qualified applicants must be recognized experts in the field of literacy education of learners in this age
group and in professional development of pre- and inservice teachers; they must also demonstrate a
commitment to translating sound research to practice.
For further information and application instructions, visit www.literacyworldwide.org/rt-call.
Editor Search Open for
The Reading Teacher
2
literacyworldwide.org | July/August 2019 | LITERACY TODAY