At the International Reading Association, the activities of our state/provincial and local councils are integral to our mission of literacy outreach and professional development for educators. We celebrated them with these awards at the IRA 58th Annual Convention in April 2013 in San Antonio, Texas.

Exemplary Reading Program Award Winners
The following schools were given these awards through their state councils.

East Elementary School, Cullman, AL
Willis D. Shaw Elementary School, Springdale, AR
Blackwater Community School, Coolidge, AZ
Loomis Grammar School, Loomis, CA
Grove Avenue Elementary School, Barrington, IL
Tonganoxie Elementary School, Tonganoxie, KS
Arabi Elementary School, Arabi, LA
Reidsville Middle School, Reidsville, NC
Englewood Elementary School, Salem, OR
Loomis Elementary School, Broomall, PA
Campobello-Gramling Elementary School, Campobello, SC
Pi Beta Phi Elementary School, Gatlinburg, TN
Stewart Elementary School, Huntsville, TX
Belview Elementary, Radford, VA
School District of Fort Atkinson Elementary Schools, Fort Atkinson, WI
Blackwater Community School, Coolidge, AZ

 

Membership Achievement Awards

GOLD

Alaska State Literacy Association
Alberta Provincial Council
Connecticut Reading Association
Illinois Reading Council
Texas Association for Literacy Education (TALE)
Utah Council
Wisconsin State Reading Association

SILVER

North Dakota Reading Association
West Virginia Reading Association

BRONZE

Indiana State Reading Association
Minnesota Reading Association
New York State Reading Association

 

Student Membership Achievement Awards

GOLD

Alabama Reading Association
Arkansas Reading Association
Diamond State Reading Association
Georgia Reading Association
Idaho Council
Kansas Reading Association
Louisiana Reading Association
Maine Reading Association
North Carolina Reading Association
North Dakota Reading Association
Saskatchewan Reading Council
Vermont Council on Reading

SILVER

Indiana State Reading Association

 

Local Council Community Service Award

Cody Reading Council (Cody, WY)
Rindi Plambeck and Rebecca Davis, Co-Presidents

 

Advocacy Awards

Connecticut Reading Association
Cathy Mastrianna, President

Illinois Reading Council
Pat Braun, President

Louisiana Reading Association
Dorothy Young, President

Michigan Reading Association
Grace Velchansky, President

Oklahoma Reading Association
Lori Pendelton, President

Virginia State Reading Association
Valerie Robnolt, President

 

Awards of Excellence

Alabama Reading Association
Nancy Nix, President

Arizona Reading Association
Ollie Archambault, President

Arkansas Reading Association
Deborah Hardwick-Smith, President

British Columbia Literacy Council
Patricia Weaver, President

California Reading Association
Lynn Gurnee, President

Colorado Council
Hollyanna Bates, President

Diamond State Reading Association
Maureen Keeney, President

Florida Reading Association
Evan Lefsky, President

Georgia Reading Association
Lynn Minor, President

Illinois Reading Council
Patricia Braun, President

Indiana State Reading Association
Chris Judson, President

Iowa Reading Association
Anthony Pieper, President

Kansas Reading Association
Donita Shaw, President

Kentucky Reading Association
Diana Porter, President

Louisiana Reading Association
Dorothy Young, President

Manitoba Reading Association
Louise Duncan, President

State of Maryland IRA Council (SoMIRAC)
Marilyn Barber, President

Massachusetts Reading Association
Sherry Sausville, President

Michigan Reading Association
Grace Velchansky, President

Missouri State Council
Terry Sherer, President

Montana State Reading Council
Karen Hickey, President Elect

Nebraska State Reading Association
Cynthia Mangers Johnson, President

New Mexico State Council
Kristy Hays, President

New York State Reading Association
Peter McDermott, President

North Carolina Reading Association
Sandra Cook, President

North Dakota Reading Association
Gloria Jones, President

Oregon Reading Association
Carol Folk, President

Keystone State Reading Association
Susan Menser, President

Saskatchewan Reading Council
Gisele Carlson, President

South Carolina State Council
Callie Herlong, President

Tennessee Reading Association
Kathy McCollum Brashears, President

Virginia State Reading Association
Valerie Robnolt, President

Washington Organization for Reading Development (WORD)
Dawn Christiana, President

West Virginia Reading Association
Jone Hersch, President

Wisconsin State Reading Association
Janice Weinhold, President

 

Honor Councils

Year 1 Honor Council

Gila County Reading Council, AZ
Lynette Dyas, President

Nicholas County Reading Council, WV
Tony Nichols, President 

Year 2 Honor Councils

Connecticut Northwest Council, CT
Sandra Potts, President

Pennyrile Council, KY
Janet Walker, President

Year 3 Honor Councils

City of Seattle Council, WA
Denise Gudwin, President

IRA Student Literacy Council of the University of Delaware, DE
Cosimo Faella, President

Manitoba Council of Reading, Clinicians, MB
Monica Wiebe, President

Murray, Kentucky Area Council, KY
Chhanda Islam, President

Northern Illinois Reading Council, IL
Elizabeth Hoelting, President

Prairie Area Reading Council, IL
Ellen Kacic, President

West Suburban Reading Council, IL
Marlene Panebianco, President

Year 4 Honor Councils

Arkansas River Valley Reading Council, AR
Sandra Mitchell, President

East Central Indiana Council, IN
Chyenne Wilder, President

Edgefield Reading Council, SC
Ginger Wates, President

Illinois Title I Association, IL
Marilyn Cordes, President

Pinnacle Special Interest Reading Council, AR
Francie Ross, President

Year 5 Honor Councils

Blue Grass Area Council, KY
Lisa King, President

Crystal Coast Reading Council, NC
Dawn Simpson, President

Yavapai Reading Council, AZ
Joan Masaryk, President

Year 6 Honor Councils

Heritage Reading Council, AL
Lori Ann Gibson, President

Jacksonville Reading Council, AL
Lesley Bean, President

University of Mobile Reading Council, AL
Candace Early, President

Year 7 Honor Councils

Elmore County Reading Council, AL
Glenda Vanermen, President

Lake Cumberland Area Reading Council, KY
Christina Warinner, President

Sunset Reading Council, OR
Judy Fisher, President

Year 8 Honor Councils

Benton County Reading Council, TN
Karen Terry, President

Driftwood Reading Council, OR
Melia Jasso, President

Greater Louisville Council, KY
Synthia Shelby, President

Onslow-Lejeune Council, NC
Tracy McIntyre, President

Umpqua Reading Council, OR
Katrina Scott, President

Year 9 Honor Councils

Autauga Reading Council, AL
Faye Moore, President

Berkshire Reading Council, MA
Catherine Salvini, President

Connecticut Association for Reading Research, CT
Judy Stone Moeller, President

Northeast Louisiana Reading Association, LA
Dewanna Eady, President

Niagara Frontier Reading Council, NY
Patricia Oliphant, President

Two Rivers Council, IL
Julie Steinke, President

Year 10 Honor Councils

Bay County Reading Association, FL
Kathleen Fontaine, President

Delaware County Council
Annemarie Jay, President

Eastern Connecticut Reading Council, CT
Joanne Bell, President

Three Sisters Reading Council, OR
Mary Hawes, President

Upper Shore Reading Council, MD
Robin Plummer, President

Vineyard Valleys Reading Council, OR
Melinda Larson, President

Year 11 Honor Councils

Kent Council, MI
Martha Vermeulen, President

Northeast Montana Council, MT
Jane Kolstad, President

Sussex County Organization for Reading Excellence, DE
Lisa Burnham, President

Year 12 Honor Councils

Laurens County Reading Council, SC
Vicky Culbertson, President

Robeson Council, NC
Anthony Spallino, President

Tennessee Valley Reading Council, AL
Sharon Walker, President

Year 13 Honor Councils

Cherokee Reading Council, SC
Tina Morris, President

Kewetin Nene Council, SK
Debby Noble, President

Marshall County Reading Council, WV
Jennifer Lipinski, President

Northeast Arkansas Council, AR
Viola Snow, President

Year 14 Honor Councils

Arkadelphia Area Reading Council, AR
Kaila Murphy, President

Baldwin County Reading Council, AL
Linda Noble, President

Emerald Empire Council, OR
Karren Timmermans, President

Hamilton County Reading Council, IN
Amy Catania, President

Jesse Stewart Council, KY
Marcia Ellis, President

Massachusetts Association of College and University Reading Educators, MA
Jacy Ippolito, President

Mid-State Reading Council, IL
Janel Bolender, President

Newberry County Reading Council, SC
Pamela Cromer, President

Webster County Highlander Reading Council, WV
Aleda Hileman, President

Year 15 Honor Councils

Eastern Iowa Reading Council, IA
Julie Ortner, President

Greater Hartford Area Council, CT
Laura Caruso, President

Greater Paradise Valley Reading Council, AZ
Julie Berlin, President

Saluda Reading Council, SC
Meredith Miller-Rikard, President

South East Reading Council, SK
Joan Bue, President

Year 16 Honor Councils

Central Montana Reading Council, MT
Connie Metcalfe, President

East Central - EIU Reading Council, IL
Ingrid Minger, President

Flint Hills Council, KS
Roger Caswell, President

Washington Parish Reading Council, LA
Rita Mulina, President

Year 17 Honor Councils

Guam Council, GU
Jonathan Pilarca, President

Headwaters Reading Council, WI
Colleen Konicek, President

Mid-Shore Reading Council, MD
Elizabeth Coxon, President

Monmouth County Reading Council, NJ
Joyce Noren, President

Reading Council of Northern Delaware, DE
Cecilia McCormick, President

San Joaquin County Reading Association, CA
Anne Weisenberg, President

South Arkansas Reading Council, AR
Dana Kelly, President

Spartanburg County Council, SC
Amanda Cox, President

Year 18 Honor Councils

Cape Cod Council, MA
MaryEllen Caesar, President

Central Minnesota Reading Council, MN
Beth Laudenbauch, President

Fort Collins Council, CO
Laura Whale, President

Fox Valley Reading Council, WI
Teri Rucinsky, President

Piedmont Area Reading Council, VA
Joyce Spencer, President

Year 19 Honor Councils

Cook Inlet Council, AK
Elizabeth Zeuli, President

Gateway Reading Council, CA
Paula Aja, President

Jefferson County Council, AR
Kathy Carnahan, President

North Louisiana Reading Council, LA
Loretta Jaggers, President

Placer Area Reading Council, CA
Jenn Tverberg, President

Suburban Council, IL
Laura Polkoff, President

Year 20 Honor Councils

Chicago Area Reading Association, IL
Margaret Richek, President

Kent Council, DE
Kimberly Cole, President

Mason County Council, WV
Lei Sergent, President

Northwest Arkansas Council, AR
Donna Owen, President

Reading Council of Southern New Jersey, NJ
Jane Arochas, President

Southern Maryland Reading Council, MD
Linda Forrest, President

Year 21 Honor Councils

Central Arizona Reading Council, AZ
Carolee Sopicki, President

Chester County Reading Association, PA
Glendia Kennedy, President

Eisenhower Area Reading Council, KS
Janelle Riedy, President

Grant County Reading Council, AR
Tara Derby, President

Kanawha Council of International Reading Association, WV
Barbara Jones, President

New River Valley Reading Council, VA
Peggy Kincaid, President

Piedmont Reading Council, SC
Denise Schweikart, President

SEARK Reading Council, AR
Julie Workman, President

Three Rivers Reading Council, AR
Michele Newnum, President

Twin Rivers Council, NC
Janet Zinni, President

Year 22 Honor Councils

Berkeley Reading Council, SC
Cathy Delaney, President

East San Gabriel Valley, CA
Melissa Lowry, President

Madison Area Reading Council, WI
Janet Farnan, President

Mid-Hudson Council, NY
Mary Ann Zuccaro, President

Tri-County Reading Council, PA
Penny Naugle, President

Year 23 Honor Councils

Cecil Council, MD
Jessica Kubek, President

Lake Washington Council, WA
Cim Dew, President

Rainbow Reading Council, AL
Felicia Chambers, President

Raleigh-Wake Council, NC
Anita Stack, President

Rogue Valley Council, OR
Tonya Noon-Toledo, President

Smoky Mountain Reading Council, TN
Tammy Madon, President

Year 24 Honor Councils

Carroll Reading Council, MD
Joanne Dicke, President

Eastern Shore Reading Council, MD
Michelle Shreeves, President

Frederick County Reading Council, MD
Kathleen Reifschneider, President

Lancaster-Lebanon Reading Council, PA
Carol Severance, President

North Central Reading Association, ND
Amy Engelhard, President

Shenandoah Valley Reading Council, VA
Sandra Proctor, President

Southeast Regional Reading Council, MA
Janice Standring, President

Year 25 Honor Councils

Duval County Reading Council, FL
Sandra Pruitt, President

Moore County Council, NC
Misty Clark, President

Nassau Reading Council, NY
Kathleen Conway-Gervais, President

Pikes Peak Council, CO
Claudia Miller, President

Roanoke Valley Council, VA
Charles Richards, President

Weld County Reading Council, CO
Michele Warner, President

Year 26 Honor Councils

Colonial Association of Reading Educators Council, PA
Kathleen Sagl, President

Metro-Mobile Reading Council, AL
Pamela McDade, President

Phyllis Allen Smith
North Shore Council, MA
Holly Banusiewicz, President

Western Kentucky Council, KY
Sara Jennings, President

Year 27 Honor Councils

Anne Arundel Reading Council, MD
Beth Burke, President

Central Wisconsin Reading Council, WI
Amber Garbe, President

Gary Reading Council, IN
Lolita Good-Lewis, President

Midland Empire Reading Council, MT
Janelle Wilson, President

Portland Council of IRA, OR
Barbara Kutasz, President

Reading Council of Greater Winnipeg, MB
Cindy Thiessen, President

Wood County Reading Council, WV
Lois Meadows, President

Year 28 Honor Councils

Capital Reading Council, OR
Kathleen Moran, President

Central Arkansas Council, AR
Daisy Hunt, President

Chesapeake Reading Council, VA
Heather Bailey, President

Euclid Council, OH
Hannah Szabo, President

Evansville Area Reading Council, IN
Holly Titus, President

Geary County Council, KS
Rolinda Smith, President

Howard County Council, MD
Maria Moy, President

Jefferson County Council, CO
Dana Plewka, President

Phoenix West Council, AZ
Melissa Selby, President

Tennessee Tech Council, TN
Michele Campbell, President

Year 29 Honor Councils

Alameda County Reading Association, CA
Jeannette Alday, President

Brooklyn Reading Council, NY
Milton Mayers, President

Cabell County Council, WV
Tina Cooper, President

Columbia Area Reading Council, SC
Evette Bradley, President

Contra Costa Reading Association, CA
Tanya Leyden, President

Hardy Reading Council, IA
Karla Bronzynski, President

Harrison County Reading Council, WV
Chrisanne Diaz, President

Lee’s Summit Reading Council, MO
Julie Caldwell, President

Marion County Reading Council, WV
Twyla Rote, President

Mid-Valley Council, OR
Cheryl Graham, President

Nobscot Council, MA
Marlene Correia, President

North Central Arkansas Reading Council, AR
Jeanne Harvey, President

North Central Council, TN
Mary Truka, President

Palmetto Council, SC
Brenda Capps, President

St. Louis Suburban Council, MO
Thomas Cornell, President

Tulsa County Reading Council, OK
Tulagina Smith, President

Wayne County Reading Council, MI
Hakim Shahid, President

Year 30 Honor Councils

Arrowhead Reading Council, MN
Pamela Tomassoni, President

Central New York Council, NY
Kathryn Lester, President

Delaware Valley Reading Association, PA
Ann Finore, President

Metropolitan Reading Council, NE
Janet Larson, President

Sacramento Area Reading Association, CA
Meg Gillman, President

Springfi eld Council, MO
Sarah Logan, President

Tucson Area Council, AZ
Kathryn Bell, President

West Jersey Reading Council, NJ
Susan Yoder, President

Year 31 Honor Councils

Central Nebraska Reading Council, NE
Rebecca Bartlett, President

Erie Reading Council, PA
Anna Landers, President
Greater Boston Council, MA
Jean Helstrom, President

Greater San Diego Reading Association, CA
Maureen Begley, President

Greater Washington Reading Council, VA
Kathryn Miller, President

Harford County Reading Council, MD
Lisa Komondor, President

Newport News Reading Council, VA
Sherry Edbauer, President

Orange County Reading Association, CA
Megan Sommers

Richmond Area Reading Council, VA
Debi Buck, President

Santa Clara County Reading Council, CA
Kari Ito, President

Virginia Beach Reading Council, VA
Jennifer Haws, President

 

Read more about these and other awards on the International Reading Association awards and grants webpage. Learn more about councils or find your local council on the IRA councils page.