Professional Development: New Directions for Texas

Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE)
Literacy: A Breakthrough -- 2004 Conference

The Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education (TALAE) was organized to provide practitioners an avenue for sharing ideas, best practices, problem solving, and professional development. The organization is for all areas of literacy and adult education—Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, GED Prep, English as a Second Language, Spanish GED Prep, EL/Civics, Corrections, Institutionalized, Family Literacy, Even Start, Workplace Literacy, and Literacy Volunteers. An annual conference is held at the end of January to provide professional development in the various areas and to recognize excellence in the field. Awards are presented to the Administrator of the Year, Full-time Teacher of the Year, Part-time Teacher of the Year, and Support Person of the Year. Nominations come from TALAE members, so join now.

Student memberships were established to encourage those receiving their General Education Development (GED) certificates to continue their education. All membership fees are kept at a minimum to allow everyone access to the organization. These fees go toward the scholarship fund! Full-time Educators are $15.00, Part-time Educators are $5.00, and Students are $1.00. Volunteers and other interested persons may join for any amount. Scholarships are awarded by regions with one state winner. Winners are recognized at our annual conference.

This year's conference will be held January 29-31, 2004, in San Antonio. TALAE's conference chairperson, Ms. Janell Baker, has planned an excellent program featuring session tracks for all areas of literacy and adult education.

Remember, there will be no on-site registration this year. Registration fees cover only the cost of the conference.

Officers for 2003-2004 are:

Janie Bonham, President
Nancy Bentley Dunlap, Past-President
Janell Baker, President-Elect
Paula Wood, Vice-President
Paula Wojtek, Secretary
Jeanni Pruitt,Treasurer

Members of the Board are:

Sue Barker
Rene' Coronodo
Shirley Crockett
Marilyn Flournoy
Gwendolyn Gray