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    Every Page Has a Purpose: Join the Movement for International Literacy Day 2025

    ILA Staff
     | Jul 08, 2025
    Young teacher with elementary students at a laptop
    International Literacy Day, held annually on September 8, marks a global moment to recognize literacy as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of equity, opportunity, and social justice. This year, the International Literacy Association (ILA) is launching an exciting month-long campaign that celebrates this important effort through our Children’s Rights to Read initiative

    About the Campaign

    Anchored in the belief that “Every Page Has a Purpose,” we are championing every child’s fundamental right to access, enjoy, and benefit from reading. Through the lens of ILA’s Children’s Rights to Read, our campaign will unfold over five themed weeks in September. 

    We’re preparing to roll out events that include “Readers in the Wild,” where you can share sightings of people reading in everyday places, and #MyBookVoice, which spotlights book recommendations from kids themselves. Other activities will include assembling community book bags filled with stories and projects, and a call to action in support of vital public and school libraries during the run up to the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week (October 5–11, 2025).

    How to Get Involved

    Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to be notified when our activities kit is live in August. Participation can be as simple as sparking conversation in the comments, amplifying our message on your own social platforms, and using the event hashtags.

    This International Literacy Day, we invite you to commit to our campaign. Every child deserves not just to read, but to love reading. Start today by partnering with us to advocate and celebrate literacy, equity, and the transformative power of reading.

    Learn More

    Right To Read: 4 Advocacy Organizations With Resources To Fight Book Bans

    Literacy Today 
    magazine: Thinking Critically
    International Literacy Day, held annually on September 8, marks a global moment to recognize literacy as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of equity, opportunity, and social justice. This year, the International Literacy Association...Read More
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    R. Malatesha Joshi Named Recipient of International Literacy Association’s William S. Gray Citation of Merit

    ILA Staff
     | Jul 03, 2025
    Headshot of R. Malatesha JoshiThe International Literacy Association (ILA) announced today that R. Malatesha Joshi, professor of literacy education and educational psychology at Texas A&M University, is the recipient of the ILA 2025 William S. Gray Citation of Merit.

    This honor is reserved for those who have made outstanding contributions to multiple facets of literacy development, including research, theory, and practice. Recipients have decades of impactful research to their name, making the honor akin to a lifetime achievement award.

    For more than four decades, Joshi has built a prolific career that exemplifies a rigorous integration of literacy theory, cross-linguistic research, and impactful educational practice. He has published over 125 journal articles and 21 books relating to literacy development. Joshi also co-developed the Componential Model of Reading alongside P. G. Aaron, a framework that dissected literacy into decoding, language comprehension, and reading fluency, helping to identify specific interventions for students with dyslexia and learning difficulties. 

    At Texas A&M University, where he has taught  since 2000, Joshi has made significant strides in literacy research and mentorship. He is the editor of Reading and Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal as well as the Literacy Studies monograph series, which brings together insights from linguistics, psychologists, and cognitive neuroscientists.

    Between 1980 and 2002, Joshi organized seven NATO Advanced Study Institutes to convene global scholars in their efforts to advance literacy for all. His awards include being elected to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2021, named Regents Professor at Texas A&M University in 2022, and honored with the prestigious Samuel Torrey Orton Award and Association for Reading and Writing in Asia recognition.

    “Joshi’s remarkable contributions to cross-linguistic literacy research, teacher preparation, and orthographic knowledge have shaped the field internationally and align deeply with the legacy of William S. Gray,” said Pat Edwards, committee chair and winner of the 2024 William S. Gray Citation of Merit. “We believe Joshi’s work most fully embodies the spirit of the William S. Gray Award, with a career marked by sustained excellence, international engagement, and transformative impact on literacy education and research worldwide.”

    Joining Joshi as recipients in this year’s ILA awards and grants program are several other educators and literacy leaders: 

    • Kaha Abdi, The Ohio State University | Helen M. Robinson Grant
    • Anthonia Awhinawhi, University of South Carolina | Jeanne S. Chall Research Fellowship
    • Mallory Bourquard, Louisiana Tech University | Carrice Cummins Outstanding Preservice Educator Award   
    • Jennifer Chinenye Emelife, University of Toronto | Constance McCullough International Research Grant
    • Michelle Fazio Brunson, Northwestern State University | Maryann Manning Special Service Award
    • Jill Fitzgerald, North Carolina State University, James Kim, Harvard University, Jackie Eunjung Relyea, North Carolina State University, and Patrick Rich, North Carolina State University | Dina Feitelson Research Award
    • Elena ForzaniJulie CorriganDavid Slomp, and Jennifer Randall, Boston University | Albert J. Harris Award
    • Nancy Frey and Douglas Fisher, San Diego State University | Diane Lapp and James Flood Professional Collaborator Award
    • Kimberly A. Hughes, Texas Woman’s University in the School of Education | Steven A. Stahl Research Grant
    • Guofang Li, University of British Columbia | International Citation of Merit 
    • Chinwe Onwujuba, Texas State University | Nila Banton Smith Teacher as Research Grant
    • Katie Valentine, Florida State University | Timothy & Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award
    • Angie Zapata, University of Missouri | Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award
    More information can be found on ILA’s awards and grants page. Nominations and applications for the next cycle opens in early August 2025.
    The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced today that R. Malatesha Joshi, professor of literacy education and educational psychology at Texas A&M University, is the recipient of the ILA 2025 William S. Gray Citation of Merit. This...Read More
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    In Memoriam: Kylene Beers

    ILA Staff
     | Jun 23, 2025
    Kylene BeersKylene Beers, PhD, a beloved member of the International Literacy Association for 35 years, passed away on June 20. 

    A tireless advocate for literacy and beloved educator and author, Kylene’s work transformed how we teach and engage with young readers. Her passing leaves a profound void in the world of education —as evidenced by the outpouring of heartfelt messages on her Facebook page—but her legacy endures in classrooms, libraries, and minds around the world.

    Kylene began her career as a middle school teacher, where she first recognized the disconnect many struggling readers experienced with traditional instruction. That insight became the foundation for a career devoted to closing that gap—not through rigid prescriptions, but with compassion, curiosity, and trust in every student’s potential for learning. Her groundbreaking book When Kids Can’t Read, What Teachers Can Do became a beacon for educators seeking practical strategies for teaching literacy.

    She was published in several ILA journals as well as Literacy Today, where she shared unique insight into independent reading along with colleague Bob Probst in a wildly popular article from 2021. The two have co-authored several influential works including Notice & Note and Disrupting Thinking, which urged educators to move beyond compliance-driven instruction and foster deeper engagement with texts. Kylene and Bob were also featured speakers at the ILA 2018 Conference, where they shared their philosophy not only on building better readers, but also shaping more thoughtful, empathetic citizens.

    The two participated in the ILA Next Middle Pathway Workshop, a professional learning event centered on teaching in digital and hybrid settings. They led participants through a writing prompt modeled after the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyons, where Kylene shared that writing is more than a way to show what we’ve learned, stating that, “Sometimes, like in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, we should probably use writing as a way through what we’re feeling.”

    As a former president of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Kylene was a respected leader and voice for student-centered pedagogy. In 2024, NCTE awarded her the James R. Squire Award, to which Bob wrote in her nomination letter, “She has been a model of devotion to teachers and students, to the development of literacy for all, that we would do well to emulate.” 

    Most recently, Kylene organized and hosted literacy institutes at her ranch in Waco, Texas, where she engaged with teachers from across the United States and Canada. Her final project, the next institute, is currently taking place as of this writing, proving her ongoing contribution to literacy education will continue to inspire the next generation of educators.

    Kylene will be remembered for her tireless efforts to reach students, her pioneering insights into reading, and her endless joy for supporting all teachers.

    If you would like to share a personal remembrance of Kylene, please email social@reading.org.
    Kylene Beers, PhD, a beloved member of the International Literacy Association for 35 years, passed away on June 20.  A tireless advocate for literacy and beloved educator and author, Kylene’s work transformed how we teach and engage with young...Read More
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    Danielle V. Dennis Named Vice President of ILA Board of Directors

    ILA Staff
     | May 27, 2025
    Headshot of Danielle DennisThe International Literacy Association (ILA) announced the results of the ILA 2025 Board Election today, introducing Danielle V. Dennis as the newly elected vice president of the Board.

    Dennis, dean of the College of Education at the University of Rhode Island, brings two decades of experience as a literacy professor and leader to the role.

    An ILA member for over 25 years, Dennis served as a member-at-large on the Board from 2020–2023, chairing the Publications Committee and serving as the Board liaison for editorial team searches for all three of ILA’s journals. In addition, Dennis was chair of the Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan Outstanding Dissertation Award Committee from 2021–2023; served as a member of the Program, Governance, and Fundraising Committees; and acted as the Board liaison to the Dyslexia Task Force. Dennis is currently serving on the Research Committee as well as chairing the Assessment Task Force. Her new term begins July 1, 2025.

    For twenty years, Dennis has been building and enriching school-university partnerships both in the United States and abroad. She has dedicated her career to supporting teacher development and exploring deep research in building teacher capacity in literacy through sustained professional development, the design and implementation of curriculum, and policy initiatives that enhance or inhibit equitable educational experiences of children and teachers, particularly as they relate to literacy assessment.

    “ILA plays a critical role in shaping literacy policy and practice around the world,” said Dennis. “As Vice President, I’m honored to continue collaborating with our members, councils, and global partners to advance our shared commitment to research-based instruction and equitable access to literacy for all learners.”

    Three new Board members-at-large were also elected for the 2025–2028 term:

    La Tasha FieldsLa Tasha D. Fields, professor at Madison College. She has been an ILA member since 2006, and currently serves on the boards of the Stritch Family Literacy Center and the Madison Reading Project. As an Adult Basic Education (ABE) reading instructor, Fields works closely with students and will soon serve as the 2025–2026 Director of Reading for Madison College. She has also served in leadership roles such as Milwaukee Area Reading Council President and Wisconsin State Reading Association Vice President and President.

    Headshot of Deborah MacPheeDeborah MacPhee, professor at the School of Teaching and Learning at Illinois State University. She has been an ILA member since 1999, and has worked as a literacy coach in two elementary schools; directed a university-based literacy center; and conducted research that critically examines discourses of literacy coaching, professional development school interactions, and metaphors in media of the science of reading. In 2023, MacPhee co-authored a book on literacy teaching and learning titled Learning to Be Literate: More Than a Single Story.

    Headshot of Margaret VaughnMargaret Vaughn, professor of Literacy, Language, and Technology at the College of Education at Washington State University. She has been an ILA member since 2009, serving as a reviewer and contributor for all three ILA journals. With research focused on equitable literacy practices and outreach, Vaughn has held several leadership positions in literacy organizations, including the Literacy Research Association, the United States Board on Books for Young People, and the Association of Literacy Educators and Researchers. 

    Dennis, Fields, MacPhee, and Vaughn were elected by ILA’s membership during the ILA 2025 Board Election, which was conducted online between April 1 and April 30, 2025. The new vice president and members-at-large will begin their terms on July 1, 2025.
     
    The International Literacy Association (ILA) announced the results of the ILA 2025 Board Election today, introducing Danielle V. Dennis as the newly elected vice president of the Board. Dennis, dean of the College of Education at the University...Read More
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    Right To Read: 4 Advocacy Organizations With Resources To Fight Book Bans

    Jillian Gorry
     | Apr 07, 2025
    Teacher reading to elementary aged students

    Today, I find myself reflecting on Jodi Picoult’s bestselling novel Nineteen Minutes, a harrowing account of the moments leading up to a school shooting. It was among the top books banned during the U.S. 2023–2024 school year according to PEN America, and it contains a quote that I find very poignant: “If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going.

    Book bans have already risen to unprecedented levels in recent years. Since 2021, PEN America has reported nearly 16,000 book bans in U.S. public schools nationwide—a number not seen since the Red Scare McCarthy era of the 1950s. By banning books, we are limiting access to stories that reflect a wide range of experiences and put young readers at a severe disadvantage. As a society, we all suffer under censorship.

    Preserving the freedom to read

    Right to Read Day marks a national effort led by Unite Against Book Bans to encourage readers, educators, and advocates to preserve access to literature for all. By mobilizing our communities, raising awareness, and providing advocacy tools, we can challenge restrictions on books in schools and libraries right now.

    Here are four organizations that can help support your involvement:

      1. 1.  Office for Intellectual Freedom: Part of the American Library Association, you can receive free consulting services, training materials, and even grants to bolster efforts combating book bans. 
        2.  Unite Against Book Bans: Our partners at Unite Against Book Bans offer actionable advocacy ideas to implement in your local community today, such as ways to support your local library, how to report a book ban, and ways to evaluate government candidates.
        3. PEN America: Providing research reports that clearly outline the dramatic rise in censorship, PEN America also offers guides on how to contact your state elected officials and what to say at public meetings.
        4. International Literacy Association (ILA): Here at ILA, we provide a Children’s Rights to Read toolkit specifically designed for teacher colleagues, librarians, families, and policymakers.

    Literacy is a fundamental human right, and access to books is essential for fostering lifelong learning, critical thinking, and empathy. By defending the right to read, we uphold global literacy efforts that empower individuals and communities. Whether you write to a legislator, attend an event, or share resources, every action contributes to a future where books remain accessible to all.

    Jillian Gorry is the managing editor for the International Literacy Association.

    Today, I find myself reflecting on Jodi Picoult’s bestselling novel Nineteen Minutes, a harrowing account of the moments leading up to a school shooting. It was among the top books banned during the U.S. 2023–2024 school year according to PEN...Read More
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