| Earlier this week, we announced that the ILA 2020 Conference, scheduled to take place this October in Columbus, OH, has been canceled due to the impact of COVID-19. The fact that this was a necessary decision doesn’t make it any less difficult. We share the disappointment of program presenters, volunteer leaders, and the thousands of participants who—let’s face it—are what makes ILA conferences so special in the first place. The theme selected for this year’s conference was “Shaping the Future of Literacy: 2020 Vision.” There was no possible way for us to have foreseen this future, let alone prepare for it. As for what’s to come, one thing is certain: The way we teach, and the way in which students learn, will never be the same. Your needs have changed—and are still changing—and to support you best, we need to change as well. We’ve already begun rolling out a new slate of professional development offerings, including ILA at Home, a series of hour-long webinars with leaders such as Timothy Shanahan and Donalyn Miller. Each is available free to ILA members; nonmembers can register for $45 or join ILA for less than the cost of a single webinar (and gain access to the entire series in the process!). Visit literacyworldwide.org/digitalevents for more information. Next month, we will be unveiling a progressive model for professional learning being designed specifically for a digital platform. It’s immersive, interactive, and responsive. We believe it’s the future of PD. We will continue to weather this storm together, and as you enter the period of post-COVID recovery that’s to come, we’ll support you every step of the way. Stay safe—and stay connected. Marcie Craig Post Executive Director International Literacy Association  |
