Specialized Literacy Professionals is a special interest group devoted to the needs and concerns of those in the 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.  This special interest group has been in existence for over two decades and includes in its membership many ILA Board members, both past and present, ILA Presidents, and Reading Hall of Fame members. Specialized Literacy Professionals publishes a refereed yearbook, conducts research, holds conferences, sponsors workshops 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. These stands on important issues have elicited many positive comments:

"The SIG does important work and should be supported by so many of us."
Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector
President (2014-2015), International Literacy
      Association/ International Reading Association

 So far in 2017, we have provided professional development opportunities at the International
Literacy Association Annual Conference in Orlando, FL on July 16, which featured inspirational keynote presentations from Alfred Tatum, Jan Burkins, and Phillip Wilder that addressed the important topic of "Addressing Diversity Through Literacy Coaching and Leadership."

Sig Session Slides can be found here: SIG Session Slides
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