The Children's Literature Assembly (CLA) of the National Council of Teachers of English is a professional community of children’s literature enthusiasts who advocate the centrality of literature in children’s academic and personal lives. We believe every teacher needs a wide and extensive knowledge base of books published for children and young adults.

CHILDREN'S LITERACY ADVOCACY

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It is a teacher's privilege and responsibility to help students discover the joy of reading, while they also teach students how to internalize the skills and strategies of fluent reading. This occurs through teacher modeling, reading aloud quality literature to the class, recommending books to children based on their individual interests, and through incorporating literature into teaching lessons and learning activities across the curriculum. To that end, the members of CLA are dedicated to achieving the following goals:
  • To provide a forum for exchange among teachers of children's literature who share keen interest in children and classrooms;
  • To promote children's literature as a field of learning, research, and classroom application;
  • To undertake and disseminate programs and projects of special interest to those interested in children's literature; and
  • To work cooperatively with other organizations devoted to the promotion of literature in children's lives

In our pursuit of these goals, we engage in the following advocacy work:
  • publish the biannual, peer-reviewed Journal of Children's Literature that includes empirical research involving children’s literature, interviews with and profiles of noted authors and illustrators, as well as reviews of children's and professional books;
  • create the annual Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award
  • host the following events at NCTE’s annual convention [CLA @ NCTE]
    • Children’s Literature Breakfast featuring notable authors and illustrators as keynote speakers,
    • Children’s Literature Master Class where teachers and teacher educators engage in discussion and activities focused on teaching children’s literature in post-secondary institutions

The Children's Literature Assembly seeks the support of all individuals and organizations engaged in the preparation and continuing education of teachers in the pursuit of this essential goal.

Committees and Representatives

Communications Committee
Wendy Stephens (Chair and MailChimp)
Xenia Hadjioannou (Website Manager)
Mary Lee Hahn (Social Media)
Angela Wiseman (Social Media)
Liz Thackeray Nelson (Membership)

membership Committee

Liz Thackeray Nelson & Xenia Hadjioannou (Chairs)
Trish Bandré (Treasurer)
ways and means Committee
Ally Hauptman (Chair)
Michelle Hasty
Raven Cromwell
Marion Rocco
Peggy Rice
Breakfast Committee
April Bedford & Cynthia Alaniz (2020 Co-Chairs)
master class committee
2020 Co-Chairs:
Jacqualine Arnold
Mary-Kate Sableski

2021 Co-Chairs
Adam Crawley
Craig Young
Endowment committee
Chair: Miriam Martinez
Jennifer Graff (Past-President)
Lauren A. Liang (President)
Ruth Lowery (President-Elect)
Trish Bandre (Treasurer)
Xenia Hadjioannou (At-large member, Website Manager)
Notables committee
Jeanne Fain (2020 Chair)
Vera Ahihya
Elizabeth Bemiss
S. Rebecca Leigh
Janine Schall
Jennifer Summerlin
Kathryn Will
student committee
Alex Berglund (chair)
Ashley Atkinson
Kristin Bauck
Janet Boone
Julie Carbaugh
Nick Kleese
Ruth Lowery (President-Elect)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
Donna Sabis-Burns & Rachel Skrlac Lo (Chairs)
Thomas Crisp
Monica Kleekamp
Jon Wargo
Noreen Rodriguez
Christina King
Ji Hyun Hong
Selena Van Horn
Angie Zapata
Nominating Committee
Jennifer Graff (Chair, Past-President)
Lauren A. Liang (President)
Ruth Lowery (President-Elect)
Donna Sabis-Burns & Rachel Lo (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Chairs)
Research Award committee
Linda Parsons (Chair 2020)
Maria Leija
Megan van Deventer
Bonnie Campbell Hill Literacy Leader Award committee
Nancy Johnson (Award Chair ’20)
early career award committee
[expected 2021]
Journal of Children’s Literature Editors
Thomas Crisp
Mary Napoli
Vivian Yenika-Agbaw
Angie Zapata


NCTE liaison
Kristen Ritchie
publisher representative
Patty Rosati, Harper Collins Publishers

Officers

President
Lauren Aimonette Liang
University of Utah (’20)
Vice-President
Ruth Lowery
The University of North Texas (’20)
Secretary
Megan Van Deventer
Weber State University (’20)
Treasurer
Trish Bandré
Salina Public Schools (’20)
Email the treasurer about non-membership payment and accounting transactions
Historian
Amy McClure
Ohio Wesleyan University ('18)
Past President
Jennifer M. Graff
University of Georgia ('20)
Other Elected Board Members
  • Jacqualine Arnold, University of Dayton ('20)
  • Xenia Hadjioannou, Penn State University, Harrisburg ('20)
  • Mary-Kate Sableski, University of Dayton ('20)
  • Cynthia Alaniz, Coppell Indep. School District, Texas (’21)
  • April Bedford, Brooklyn College (’21)
  • Miriam Martinez, University of Texas, San Antonio (’21)
  • Ally Hauptman, Lipscomb University (’22)
  • Donna Sabis-Burns, Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickman Elementary School (’22)
  • Rachel Skrlac Lo, Villanova University (’22)

CLA MEMBERSHIP

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