One year ago we held our annual conference
for the first time as the International Literacy
Association (ILA). A new name, yes, but one that
maintains 60 years of the International Reading
Association’s leadership in reading and literacy.
As you know, the change from “Reading”
to “Literacy” came about as a result of ongoing
discussions around who we are, what we do,
and where we are going. The gradual shifts
we have been making were borne out of both
necessity and opportunity. They are a reflection
of what will strengthen our position and ability
to build a network of advocates for literacy
worldwide.
The enthusiasm and energy from last year’s
conference was a key milestone in reinforcing
ILA’s standing as the leading global professional
membership association for literacy teachers
and leaders. It also served to remind us all of our
shared vision: making literacy accessible to all.
ILA’s Journey to
Advance Literacy for All
ILA UPDATE
Marcie Craig Post
Executive Director
William Teale
President
Douglas Fisher
Vice President
Diane Barone
Immediate Past President
A revitalized network, positioned
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September/October 2016 | LITERACY TODAY
To advance literacy across the globe, we know that
action is needed at all levels—from educators to
government, philanthropic, and business leaders,
and especially the community at large. Through our
collective efforts, we need to
Accelerate instructional innovation and
adoption of best practices
Develop, gather, and disseminate high-quality
research
Translate research into classroom practice
Engage educators and policymakers to
advocate for students’ literacy rights
Inspire the broader community to support
ILA’s vision and mission
To do so, ILA serves as the global professional
network of literacy educators. We provide
support, evidence, and research, as well as
recommendations on what we know to be
effective when it comes to teaching literacy. ILA
is, and will continue to be, the literacy educator’s
hub for resources, including research in our
peer-reviewed journals and best practices for
literacy education such as Standards for Literacy
Professionals. These are currently being revised
and the draft standards pertaining to specialized