Officers of the Jefferson County Reading Council attended the Arkansas Reading Association’s Leadership Workshop July 13 and 14 at the Little Rock Embassy Suites. They were Paula Findley, ARA past president of White Hall; Kathy Carnahan, JCRC president; and Dorothy Pollett, ARA international projects chair; all of White Hall School District.
Also attending were Margie Nanak, ARA community projects chair and JCRC membership chair; Roxanne Harper, JCRC treasurer, and Susan Bitely, JCRC past president from the Pine Bluff School District.
Other officers include Jeannine Shirley, JCRC vice-president of WHSD, and Carla Terry, secretary , of PBSD
Approximately 85 local reading council leaders from across Arkansas attended the workshop. Sessions focused on program promotion, leadership skill training, networking, and local literacy projects.
A representative from the Arkansas Department of Education gave a Common Core update. Darcy Pattison, an Arkansas author and writing instructor, presented a session Saturday morning. All attendees received a signed copy of her book, Wisdom, the Midway Albatross.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Arkansas Reading Association has approximately 1,400 members dedicated to promoting literacy throughout the state. ARA is an affiliate of the International Reading Association. Twenty-two local councils throughout the state support area educators, parents, and others through local programs and special projects. A professional development conference is held annually.
Anyone interested in attending the state conference or in joining the Jefferson County Reading Council council should contact Margie Nanak at Margie@arareading.org or visit www.arareading.org, or call 1-800-336-READ (7323) for membership information.
The first meeting of the Jefferson County Reading Council will be Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. at Southeast Middle School Media Center, 2001 Ohio St.