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literacyworldwide.org | July/August 2019 | LITERACY TODAY
LIT BITS
The Results Are In
ILA is pleased to announce the newly elected
members of the ILA Board of Directors,
including our new vice president, Stephen
Peters, superintendent of Laurens County
School District 55 in South Carolina.
Our three new Board members-at-large are:
Kia Brown-Dudley, director of literacy and
development, The Education Partners,
New York
Rachael Gabriel, associate professor of literacy
education, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Laurie Sharp, associate professor and
assistant dean of Undergraduate Studies for
First- and Second-Year Experience at Tarleton
State University, Texas
Their terms run from 2019–2022.
To learn more about our newly elected
leaders, visit our interview series at
literacyworldwide.org/2019board.
Peters
Brown-Dudley
Gabriel
Sharp
ILA recently signed onto a letter, organized by the
Association of American Educators Foundation, sent to
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and leaders in
Congress addressing the lack of teacher diversity in U.S.
classrooms. The letter reports that 53% of public school
students are children of color, whereas only 18% of
teachers identify as a person of color. Studies show this
disparity causes overall lower achievement, especially
among at-risk students and students of color. The letter
states, “We believe that increasing teacher diversity
elevates the teaching profession and improves the lives
and outcomes of all students,” and calls on all parties to
play a role in addressing the problem. View the letter a nd
lend your support at aaeteachers.org/diversity.
ILA Joins 75
Organizations
Calling for
Greater
Teacher
Diversity