Literacy—across all sectors, mediums, and channels—is increasingly critical. In order to effectively prepare children and adults for the future, teachers must be well prepared to help diverse students improve their literacy skills.

Teacher preparation is vital to cultivating literacy achievement. When the International Literacy Association hosts a panel of experts to talk about our approach, explore where we stand, find out what is and is not working, and learn what role each of us play in the equation, it won’t involve only the people in that room at America’s Center Convention Complex. It will be streamed live around the world.

On July 18 from 3:00–5:00 p.m. CT, “Cultivating Literacy Achievement Through Quality Teacher Preparation” will convene voices from all perspectives of teacher prep, including educators, researchers, and representatives of national professional organizations, to collectively examine how we can better prepare our teachers to drive student literacy achievement and advance literacy.
If you won’t be at ILA 2015 or can’t make it to the panel, you can register for the free online livestream with Eduvision here, thanks to our media partner JDL Horizons.

The panel brings together thought leaders from key organizations involved in the issue:

• Rita M. Bean, University of Pittsburgh
• Deanna Birdyshaw, University of Michigan
• William H. Teale, University of Illinois at Chicago and the UIC Center for Literacy
• Louann Reid, Colorado State University
• Bryan M. Joffe, The School Superintendents Association (AASA)
• Linda McKee, The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE)
• Christopher Koch, The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Laurie Calvert, U.S. Department of Education

The ILA 2015 Conference will be held July 18–20 in St. Louis, MO, with more than 6,000 educators ready to transform their practice. Key topics affecting literacy featured at the conference include content literacy, children’s literature, classroom engagement, and professional development. In addition to conference favorites, including a revamped Teaching Edge series and the Putting Books to Work panels, more than 120 exhibitors will be on hand with new tools and technologies for all manners of literacy education.
Learn more about the conference programs at ilaconference.org or register today.