NCTE Standing Committee on Affiliates

Emily Kirkpatrick Is New NCTE Executive Director: NCTE is pleased to announce Emily Kirkpatrick as our new executive director. Through her work as vice president of the National Council for Families Learning (NCFL), she has developed a deep appreciation for NCTE goals, initiatives, and members.

“Becoming executive director of NCTE is an opportunity of a lifetime,” Emily said when her appointment was announced. “With talented members, staff, and elected leaders, NCTE is a vibrant community.The reach of the organization and the quality of its work have an incredible impact on education in our country. I am honored to become a part of amplifying the organization’s voice.”

Read more on the NCTE Website.

Broken Record Review—Reminders of Opportunities

Affiliate Breakfast Invitation: Calling all affiliate officers and board members. While completing your NCTE convention registration, remember to reserve your spot at this year’s Affiliate Breakfast. Meet and hear from NCTE Vice President Susan Houser and NCTE member, staunch supporter, and National Teacher of the Year, Shanna Peeples. Connect with and learn from your peers from other affiliates. And there’ll be photo ops with your awards. We SCOA representatives look forward to seeing you there!

Register for the NCTE Annual Convention: Give in to the temptation to register and attend the NCTE 2015 Annual Convention in Minneapolis, November 19-22. “The Arts of Language,” part of the Convention’s title, describes the wide range of featured speakers, including Alison Bechdel (graphic memoir), Taylor Mali (poetry and performance), Chelsea Clinton (philanthropist), Peter Sís (illustrator and author), and Chris Crutcher (fiction), Dave Eggers (writing).

SCOA Sessions at the Annual Convention: In addition to the Affiliate Breakfast described above, the Standing Committee on Affiliates will sponsor two additional sessions at the Annual Convention for affiliate leaders. Consider attending one or both of these chances to exchange ideas with colleagues.

• Session T2.06, Thursday, 3:00-4:15 p.m., State Affiliate Inquiry Teams and Building Capacity on the Literacy in Learning Exchange
• Session E.47, Friday, 4:00-5:15 p.m., Affiliate Representatives Meeting
• Session H.16, Saturday, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Affiliate Awards: Opportunities for Affiliates to Showcase Their Work to Support ELA (hints for applying)

Obsession? Impression? Digression? Why Do YOU Write?: The National Day on Writing approaches—October 20. This year’s theme is “Why I Write.” Join us Sunday, October 18, 8:00 p.m. ET, for #nctechat “Why I Write: Exploring Writing Habits of Mind.” Be more creative than Cajun Man of SNL fame. The NCTE page for the initiative states its purpose: “to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in.” Everyone reading this newsletter has myriad reasons. If students and colleagues need prompts, the habits of mind listed in the “Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing” provide superior prompts: curiosity, openness, engagement, creativity, responsibility, persistence, metacognition, and flexibility.

Connected Educators Month: Take the opportunity participate in NCTE’s Innovations in Assessment Theme and Challenge during Connected Educators Month and beyond. Specifically, NCTE is inviting answers to the questions: How might we shift the conversation toward a more holistic and well-rounded understanding of how we can know what kids know and can do? How can we re-envision assessments for accountability and equity? In honor of Connected Educators Month and NCTE’s theme of “Innovations in Assessment,” NCTE is offering a 20% discount on some of its best resources on assessment!

Annual Affiliate Reports Still Welcome: Only 36 affiliates had sent their annual reports by the end of September. If your affiliate has not yet completed the forms, please do so as soon as possible (and before November 10). Results from those reports help SCOA and NCTE plan supporting programs for and from affiliates and enable us to share with you what other affiliates are doing. For example, see in the graph the different ways these 36 affiliates are communicating with their members.

Your SCOA representatives will meet with the NCTE Executive Committee at the Annual Convention. The data and narratives from affiliates in the annual reports add credibility to SCOA’s claims and suggestions for programs and supports.