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
Donna Sabis-Burns & Rachel Skrlac Lo (2021 Co-Chairs)
Angela Wiseman & Ally Hauptman (2022 Co-Chairs)
master class committee
Adam Crawley & Craig Young (2021 Co-Chairs)
Adam Crawley & Lisa Patrick (2022 Co-Chairs)
Endowment committee
Miriam Martinez (Chair)
Lauren A. Liang (Past-President)
Ruth McKoy Lowery (President)
Xenia Hadjioannou (Vice President)
Trish Bandre (Treasurer)
Notables committee
Jeanne G. Fain (2020 Chair)
Kathyrn Will (2021 Chair)
Vera Ahiyya
Elizabeth Bemiss
Janine Schall
Jennifer Summerlin
Fran Wilson
student committee
Jeanne G. Fain (2020 Chair)
Kathyrn Will (2021 Chair)
Vera Ahiyya
Elizabeth Bemiss
Janine Schall
Jennifer Summerlin
Fran Wilson
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
Rachel Skrlac Lo, Assistant Professor, Villanova University (Co-Chair)
Donna Sabis-Burns, U.S. Department of Education (Co-Chair)
Katie Sciurba, Assistant Professor, San Diego State University
Craig Young, Professor, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Nadine Bryce, Associate Professor, CUNY-Hunter College
Maria Leija, Associate Professor, University of Texas-San Antonio
Lester Laminack, Author, North Carolina
Nominating Committee
Lauren A. Liang (Chair, Past-President)
Ruth Lowery (President)
Xenia Hadjioannou (Vice President)
Donna Sabis-Burns & Rachel Lo (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Co-Chairs)
Research Award committee
April Bedford (2021 Chair)
Elizabeth Bemiss
Kelly Wiseman
Janine Schall
Bonnie Campbell Hill Literacy Leader Award committee
Nancy Johnson (2021 Chair)
Linda Parsons
Marla Robertson
early career award committee
Cynthia Alaniz (2021 Chair)
Mary Ellen Oslick
Mollie Welsh Kruger
Jennifer Summerlin
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
Ruth Lowery
The University of North Texas (’22)
Vice-President
Xenia Hadjioannou
Penn State University, Harrisburg ('22)
Secretary
Megan Van Deventer
Weber State University (’23)
Treasurer
Trish Bandré
Salina Public Schools (’23)
Email the treasurer about non-membership payment and accounting transactions
Historian
Amy McClure
Ohio Wesleyan University ('23)
Past President
Lauren Aimonette Liang
University of Utah (’22)
Other Elected Board Members
  • Cynthia Alaniz, Coppell Indep. School District, Texas (’21)
  • April Bedford, Brooklyn College (’21)
  • S. Adam Crawley, Oklahoma State University (’23)
  • Ally Hauptman, Lipscomb University (’22)
  • Miriam Martinez, University of Texas, San Antonio (’21)
  • Lisa Patrick, Ohio State University (’23)
  • Donna Sabis-Burns, U.S. Department of Education (’22)
  • Rachel Skrlac Lo, Villanova University (’22)
  • Angela Wiseman, North Carolina State University (’23)

CLA MEMBERSHIP

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