Specialized Literacy Professionals is a special interest group devoted to the needs and concerns of those in the International Literacy Association (ILA) with specialized training or responsibilities in reading or literacy. As defined in the ILA publication Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2017), these are individuals that include reading/literacy specialists, literacy coaches, literacy coordinators/supervisors, as well as classroom teachers, literacy support personnel, teacher educators, and principals.
Originally named Professionalizing Careers in Reading/Literacy Development, followed by Specialized Reading Professionals, this special interest group has been in existence since 1988. Included in its membership are many ILA Board members, both past and present, ILA Presidents, and Reading Hall of Fame members.
Originally named Professionalizing Careers in Reading/Literacy Development, followed by Specialized Reading Professionals, this special interest group has been in existence since 1988. Included in its membership are many ILA Board members, both past and present, ILA Presidents, and Reading Hall of Fame members.
Why Join?
Specialized Literacy Professionals publishes a refereed yearbook, conducts research, holds conferences, provides sessions at the annual convention, sponsors webinars, and serves as a group urging the ILA Board to take stands on important issues. Some of these issues have included: the plight of reading specialists; campaigning for the ILA Board; and involving more P-12 educators in leadership roles.
Specialized Literacy Professionals also offers to its membership the following:
Specialized Literacy Professionals also offers to its membership the following:
- a professional network for collaboration, including research and collaborative authorship
- awards such as The Jack Cassidy Award for Scholarly Contributions
- a doctoral student and new faculty mentoring program
- a newsletter and opportunities to announce recent publications
- opportunities for service