2018-19 is full of new and exciting changes starting with our name change from Arkansas Reading Association to Arkansas Literacy Association. We are still affiliated with the ILA and will continue to dedicate ourselves to promoting reading and writing through professional development, scholarship, and awards opportunities. 

Our 2018 Conference is already in the final stages of planning. The theme this year is Live...Love...Literacy, and our focus is all about the passion that we as literacy leaders have and want to instill in our literacy learners and future leaders. We have a dynamic line up of authors and speakers that you will not want to miss.  

Our new online conference is planned for February as well! There is nothing like getting PD in the comfort of your PJ's. Last year's online  conference started off with a bang, and this one is sure to  be even better!  We hope you are planning to attend both conferences!

I would like to thank ILA for all their assistance during our transition phase! It was a lot of hard work, but they helped us with every step of the process.

ALA welcomes all literacy leaders and we want to encourage new leaders to get involved with us. Each year we have officer positions open and committee chair opportunities, as well. Don't forget about our scholarship, grant, and award opportunities!

I want to thank each and every one that helps ALA to put on our conferences and promotes literacy in local communities, our state, and around the world! You are making a difference in the lives of readers everywhere!

Sincerely,

Tara Derby, ALA Chair

Patti Smith Named 2018 ARA Administrator in Reading

Patti Smith was recently named ARA's Administrator in Reading for 2018.  Patti is currently the Principal of Drew Central Middle School in Monticello, Arkansas and is her third year in this position. She has a MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, 21 additional hours in English and reading from Harding University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and a BS in Elementary Education from Delta State University.  

The students' literacy scores at Drew Central have increased each year that Smith has been principal. Through her leadership, professional development initiatives, and her support for high quality literacy instruction, teachers have gained and used best practices in the classroom to increase literacy achievement.  

In addition, she wrote, created, and implemented a "Boot Camp" at Dermott and Drew Central to prepare students for the stare testing. She also implemented a twenty-minute mandated reading rime for all students in the middle and high school, helping to build a culture of reading. 

Patti was nominated by SEARK Reading Council. 

School-Based Literacy Grant Awarded 

Congratulations -  Kelly Hogan

Kelly Hogan, a member of Crowley’s Ridge Reading Council and a school library media specialist at Fox Meadow Elementary in Jonesboro is the recipient of the 2018 Arkansas Reading Association’s School-Based Literacy Grant. Kelly will receive $500 to spend on her project “Deweying It My Way.” The goal of Kelly’s project is to increase her K-2 students’ independence and efficiency of locating and selecting nonfiction library books by implementing a book box system in which the books are arranged by topic.