Teachers Voices Empowered

Teachers’ Voices Empowered

According to the Louisiana Reading Association (LRA), local classroom teachers have a voice in Louisiana.

At the 2009 annual meetingof the International Reading Association(IRA) in Minneapolis, the IRA Board of Directors revised bylaws and formed a Teacher Advisory Panel (TAP) chaired by board member and classroom teacher, Marsha Lewis of North Carolina. TheTAP consists of classroom teachers appointed by the Board of Directors to serve as an Advisory Panel to IRA. At the 2010 IRA Convention in Chicago, the eight initial members appointed to TAP met face to face. Since all other communications throughout the year will be electronic, this opportunity to connect with each other was valuable.

Kathy Simmons-O'Neal was recognized as one of the eight initial members to serve the southeast region of the United States in conjunction with 7 other regions including Canada. Mrs. O'Neal is a kindergarten teacher at Oak GroveElementary in West Carroll Parish. She served the Louisiana Reading Association (LRA) as president in 2008-2009 and currently serves as the Louisiana TeacherAdvisory Panel (LRA LaTAP)Chairperson for the LRA.

At the Convention in Chicago, IRA President Kathy Au, Executive Director Bill Harvey, and Legislative Advocate Rich Longpresented insights to theTAP about the new Strategic Long Range Plan developed by IRA this past year. Integral next steps include reaching out to members through online staff development (webinars, etc.) and increased committee participation to expand and engage membership.

TAP members are charged with soliciting ideas and suggestions from classroom teachers and state/local councils that can be shared with IRA’s Board of Directors, developing quick and efficient ways to gather teacher ideas and get/give input, increasing ideas for online staff development, generating increased membership across a wide range of diversities, and distributing information through Reading Today and state print and electronic media. Ideas include establishing a network of classroom teachers who have an interest in and commitment to advancing literacy, implementing a support structure for classroom teachers using an electronic format, increasing classroom teacher membership and engagement with committee work, providing support to the IRA Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and publicizing the TAP and its potential to empower teachers’ voices.

The Louisiana Reading Association is following the IRA’s lead by developing a Louisiana Teacher Advisory Panel (LRA’s LaTAP). The panel is comprised of six classroom teachers thathave been selected to serve on a Louisiana TeacherAdvisory Panel (LRA LaTAP). Each panel member will work directly with about 11 Louisiana school districts in order to improve communication between the classroom teacher and the LRA. The members were recommended by LRA officers or Literacy Liaisons appointed by District Superintendents and Department of Education. The 2010-11 LRA LaTAP panel consists of the following members: Keena Trosclair of St. James, Holly Marchiafava of Zachary, Bridget Smolcich of St. Tammany, Shanne Bowieand Melody Jones of Caddo and Stephanie Harper of Jefferson. These panel members recently met face to face at the Louisiana Reading Association’s Leadership Training on July 17, 2010 to further research their goals for Louisiana. For more informationsee under LRA LaTAP.

Classroom teachers interested in promoting literacy in Louisiana should contact their local Literacy Liaison or visit the site under Literacy Liaisons List.