We can’t believe that the final day of #NCTE18 came and went so quickly! We ended this year’s Annual Convention on a high note that included celebrations of affiliates, award programs, and more!
Affiliate Roundtable Breakfast: Celebration of Affiliate Voices for Students
We kicked off this morning by coming together with the NCTE affiliates to celebrate the successes of the last year and to plan for the great things coming in 2019! Each year, the breakfast is a place to hear from NCTE leaders and a forum for the recognition of state, regional, and national affiliate activity. Affiliate programs were recognized with awards for excellence, leadership, development, membership growth, recruitment of teachers of color, intellectual freedom, multicultural programs, and publications, including journals, newsletters, and websites. Congratulations to all of the winners!
Children’s Literature Assembly
The Children’s Literature Assembly Breakfast brought to light two of the things we love most about the Convention: books and authors! This year’s art auction was beautiful, and the keynote by Candace Fleming, prolific and highly acclaimed author of numerous books for young adults and children, and Eric Rohmann, author/illustrator of the Caldecott Medal-winning My Friend Rabbit, left us inspired.
Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award 10th Anniversary Celebration
This morning, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the NCTE Early Career Educator of Color (EC-EOC) Leadership Award Program at #NCTE18. Attendees met current and past winners as well as the program’s co-directors Anna J. Small Roseboro and Jeffrey Arellano Cabusao and learned more about the EC-EOC program. Alfredo Celedón Luján, winner of the 2017 NCTE Advancement of People of Color Leadership Award and NCTE Vice President, was the keynote speaker.
National Writing Project Brunch
The 2019 Convention was the first year that we officially welcomed the National Writing Project (NWP) into the NCTE Convention. In addition to having a strand in the program, NWP held a sold-out brunch with Executive Director Elyse Eidman-Aadahl offering remarks about the state of the NWP network and their work this past year.
General Session: Jocelyn A. Chadwick and Peter and Paul Reynolds
NCTE President Jocelyn A. Chadwick kicked off this morning’s general session with an inspiring Presidential Address, “Teaching Has Not Left Us: It Has Simply Moved On. The Question Is: Are We Ready to Follow?” Some of the important reminders she shared:
“The English language arts are not dead.”
“Teaching most assuredly has not left us. Our expertise, focus, and dedication have not left us.”
Peter and Paul Reynolds, respectively the author of The Dot, Ish, and Happy Dreamer, and CEO and cofounder of Fablevision, then followed with a keynote address that challenged each of us to “Create bravely.” Some of the inspiration they shared:
“Giving a great book to students is a hug.”
“The magic that teachers do is love their students.”
“Picture books are wisdom dipped in art and words.”
“There are countless moments where you’re changing students’ lives.”
This session closed with two important events:
The passing of the torch—Franki Sibberson is the 2019 NCTE President!
The announcement of the 2019 theme, Spirited Inquiry, by 2019 Program Chair Leah Zuidema.
We were incredibly inspired by the teaching and learning that took place this weekend at #NCTE18! Registration and the Call for Proposals for #NCTE19 in Baltimore, Maryland, is now open. Let the great ideas flow, and be sure to register to join us next year! Proposals are due January 16, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. EST.