The International Reading Association (IRA) is looking for new members of the IRA Teacher Advisory Panel, also known as TAP. TAP members advise the IRA Board of Directors about classroom literacy issues in the field. In the past, TAP members have served on IRA Task Forces, written articles about classroom issues for Reading Today, presented at the annual conference, and provided guidance on any number of items for board discussion. TAP members serve a three year term, and perform most of their duties through conference calls and electronic mail.

Are you looking for a way to serve IRA right from your own classroom?

A TAP member must be a regular classroom teacher who spends 100% of his/her time in a Pre-kindergarten-12th grade classroom working with students. TAP members must also:

1. Have been a classroom teacher for a minimum of three years and plan to remain a classroom teacher for an additional three years.
2. Have been an IRA member for a minimum of three years.
3. Be a member of and be active in a local, state, or provincial council or in an international affiliate and have a recommendation from that council or affiliate.
4. Demonstrate a strong commitment to literacy improvement as evidenced by involvement at a school, community, state, national, or international level.
5. Be knowledgeable about classroom literacy issues and have shown  classroom teacher leadership.

In exchange, TAP members will receive conference registration, airfare, and hotel accommodations up to US$1000 in order to attend a half day information/training session at the IRA Annual Convention in Chicago, IL on April 29 (tentative date), 2012.

For the 2012-2015 term of service, IRA is looking for six new TAP members. TAP members will be appointed from each of the following regions:

1. Great Lakes—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
2. Southeast—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
3. Plains—Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota
4. Canada
5. International—any country outside the U.S. and Canada
6. One additional member representing any region of the U.S.

Candidates representing diversity of race, ethnicity, gender, and age, are encouraged to apply.

Visit the TAP online application webpage if you meet the criteria and are willing to serve in this important capacity.

Photo caption: TAP members at the 2009 IRA Convention. Click here to see a list of current TAP members.

TAP Webpage

IRA Board and Governance

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