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
Megan Van Deventer (Chair and MailChimp)
Xenia Hadjioannou (Website Manager)
Mary Lee Hahn (Facebook)
Marni Reecer (Digital Design)
Liz Thackeray Nelson (Membership)
membership Committee

Liz Thackeray Nelson (Chair)
Xenia Hadjioannou (Website Manager)
Trish Bandré (Treasurer)
Julie Scullen
ways and means Committee
Ally Hauptman (co-chair)
Raven Cromwell (co-chair)
Kathryn Pole
Mary Lee Hahn
Michelle Hasty
Peggy Rice
Breakfast Committee
Andrea Page (2023 Chair)
Jackie Arnold (2023 chair)
Jeanne Fain (2023 cochair/ 2024 chair)
Susan Polos (2023 cochair/ 2024 chair)
CLA Expert Class committee (Formerly Master Class)
Sara K. Sterner (2023 Lead Chair)
Lisa Pinkerton (Patrick) (2023 Past Chair)
Mary Ann Cappiello (2023 co-chair/ 2024 Lead chair)
Endowment committee
Miriam Martinez (Chair)
Ruth Lowery (Past President)
Xenia Hadjioannou (President)
Trish Bandre (Treasurer)
Wendy Stephens (Vice President)
Notables committee
Fran Wilson (2023 Chair)
Patrick Andrus (Assistant Chair 2023/Chair 2024)
Kathryn Will (Past Chair)
Dorian Harrison
Osha Lynette Smith
Joyce Herbeck
Laura Hudock
student committee
  • Jennifer Slagus
  • Nadine Bravo
  • Wenyu Guo
  • Callie Hammond
  • Ling Hao
  • Ashley Johnson
  • Carrie Ann Thomas
  • Meghan Valerio
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity
Adam Crawley (Chair)
Elizabeth Bemiss (Chair)
Laura Ascenzi-Moreno
Susan Browne
Nadine a Bryce  
Lester Laminack
Jennifer Slagus 
Eun Young Yeom
Craig Young
Nominating Committee
Ruth Lowery (Chair, Past President)
Xenia Hadjioannou (President)
Wendy Stephens (Vice President)
Adam Crowley (DEI Chair)
Elizabeth Bemiss (DEI Chair)
Research Award committee
Grace Enriquez (chair)
René M. Rodríguez-Astacio (vice-chair 2023)
Sandip Wilson
Denise Davila
Meghan Valerio
Bonnie Campbell Hill Literacy Leader Award committee
Nancy Johnson (Chair 2023)
Mary Ellen Oslick (vice-chair 2023)
Rachel Skrlac Lo
Jennifer Slagus - Brock University
early career award committee
Angela Wiseman (cochair)
Mary Napoli (cochair)
Marla Robertson
Katie Caprino
Journal of Children’s Literature Editors
Caitlin L. Ryan
Laura Jimenez,
Jill Hermann-Wilmarth,
Craig Young
NCTE liaison
Kristen Ritchie
publisher representative
Patty Rosati, Harper Collins Publishers
Audit Committee
April Bedford
Janine Schall

Officers

President
Xenia Hadjioannou ('24)
Penn State University, Berks
Vice-President
Wendy Stephens ('24)
Jacksonville State University
Secretary
Mary-Kate Sableski (24)
University of Dayton
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
Ruth Lowery
University of North Texas (’24)
Other Elected Board Members
  • S. Adam Crawley, University of Colorado, Boulder (’23)
  • Lisa Patrick, Ohio State University (’23)
  • Angela Wiseman, North Carolina State University (’23)
  • Mary Lee Hahn, Poet & Community Volunteer (’24)
  • Andrea M. Page, Author & Educator (’24)
  • Sara K. Sterner, Cal Poly Humboldt (’24)
  • Elizabeth Bemiss
    University of West Florida (’25)
  • Rene M. Rodriguez- Astacio
    California State University, Fresno (’25)
  • Megan M. Van Deventer
    Weber State University (’25)

CLA MEMBERSHIP

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