Commission on Language 
 

A key issue in language instruction today is teaching English language learners.  NCTE has accepted responsibility for educating its membership so that ELL becomes an intentional part of what we do in every realm, such as policy development, conference proposals, materials, resources, surveys, research briefs, and professional development.  NCTE is striving to become the major source of assistance to teachers of English Language Learners.  

Charge:

• Examine the various ways English Language Learners are being taught in American schools and identify those that appear to be most effective.
• Advise the Executive Committee regarding actions that can be taken to help NCTE realize these research and development goals in the next three years:
  • Because of NCTE's efforts in supporting research, scholars will be able to write extensive reviews of literature on research about learners of English as an additional language in classrooms where English is the language of instruction and the dominant language for the teacher and most of the students.
  • Help most NCTE members become aware of specific practices for supporting learners of English as an additional language in their classrooms.
• Continue to propose convention sessions and publications or other learning experiences for NCTE members on emerging issues in the teaching of language and linguistics.

(Permanent Commission with members appointed for three-year terms)

If you would like to be considered for future volunteer service with this group, please send an e-mail to and provide the following information in the body of your e-mail: (1)     Name (2)     Member number.  (If you are not currently a member, please provide your address and phone number.) (3)     Name of the role for which you wish to be considered (4)     Preferred e-mail address (if other than the one used to submit this request.) For more information about volunteering with NCTE, please visit www.ncte.org/about/over/vol.

Current Members

DIRECTOR, Chris Iddings (2010)
(University of Arizona, Tucson)

Xenia Hadjioannou (2011)
(Penn State-Lehigh Valley Campus, Fogelsville)

Kantaylieniere Hill-Clarke (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Karen Low (2008)
(NYCDOE/Region 9, New York, NY)

Rick Meyer (2009)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Jerrie Cobb Scott (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Nancy Rankie Shelton (2008)
(University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Geneva Smitherman (2009)
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

Anna O. Soter (2009)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Executive Committee Liaison, Joanne Yatvin
(Portland, OR)

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2007

DIRECTOR, Laurie Katz (2007)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Xenia Hadjioannou (2007)
(St. Petersburg, FL)

Kantaylieniere Hill-Clarke (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Chris Iddings (2008)
(University of Arizona, Tucson)

Karen Low (2008)
(NYCDOE/Region 9, New York, NY)

Tanya Manning (2007)
(Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center, NY)

Rick Meyer (2009)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Jerrie Cobb Scott (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Nancy Rankie Shelton (2008)
(University of Maryland, Baltimore County)

Geneva Smitherman (2009)
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

Anna O. Soter (2009)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Dolores Straker (2008)
(University of Cincinnati, OH)

Executive Committee Liaison, Kyoko Sato
(California State University, Northridge)

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2006

DIRECTOR, Laurie Katz (2007)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Xenia Hadjioannou (2007)
(St. Petersburg, FL)

Ingrid Haynes-Mays (2006)
(Circles of Success Learning Academy, Memphis, TN)

Kantaylieniere Hill-Clarke (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Chris Iddings (2008)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Karen Low (2008)
(NYCDOE/Region 9, New York, NY)

Tanya Manning (2007)
(Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center, NY)

Jerrie Cobb Scott (2008)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Nancy Rankie Shelton (2008)
(Towson University, MD) 

Geneva Smitherman (2006)
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

Dolores Straker (2008)
(University of Cincinnati, OH)

Executive Committee Liaison, Randy Bomer
(University of Texas at Austin)

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2005

DIRECTOR, Laurie Katz (2007)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Jennifer Borek (2005)
(Memphis, TN)

Xenia Hadjioannou (2007)
(St. Petersburg, FL)

Ingrid Haynes-Mays (2006)
(Circles of Success Learning Academy, Memphis, TN)

Valerie Kinloch (2005)
(Columbia University, NY)

Tanya Manning (2007)
(Guilderland High School, Guilderland Center, NY)

Richard Meyer (2005)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Nancy Shelton (2005)
(Catonsville, MD)

Geneva Smitherman (2006)
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

Gloria Solden (2005)
(Overland Park, KS)

Dolores Straker (2005)
(Freeport, NY)

Executive Committee Liaison, Patricia Lambert Stock
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2004

DIRECTOR,  Jerrie L C Scott (2004)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Jennifer Borek (2006)
(Memphis, TN)

Chris DaSilva-Iddings (2004)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Ingrid Haynes-Mays (2006)
(Circles of Success Learning Academy, Memphis, TN)

Erza Hyland (2004)
(University of Minnesota, Minneapolis)

Laurie Katz (2004)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Valerie Kinloch (2005)
(Columbia University, NY)

Richard Meyer (2005)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Nancy Shelton (2005)
(Catonsville, MD)

Geneva Smitherman (2006)
(Michigan State University, East Lansing)

Gloria Solden (2006)
(Overland Park, KS)

Dolores Straker (2005)
(Freeport, NY)

Executive Committee Liaison, MaryCarmen Cruz
(Cholla High Magnet School, Tucson, AZ)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Felisa Love

2003

DIRECTOR,  Jerrie L C Scott (2003)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Chris DaSilva-Iddings (2004)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Erza Hyland (2004)
(University of Minnesota, Minneapolis)

Laurie Katz (2004)
(Ohio State University, Columbus)

Marlinda Kaulaity (2003)
(Window Rock High School, Fort Defiance, AZ)

Valerie Kinloch (2005)
(Columbia University, NY)

Richard Meyers (2005)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Nancy Shelton (2005)
(Catonsville, MD)

Dolores Straker (2005)
(Freeport, NY)

Nancy Tolson (2003)
(Illinios State University, Normal)

Demetrice A Worley (2003)
(Bradley University, Peoria, IL)

Executive Committee Liaison, MaryCarmen Cruz
(Tucson, AZ)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Kent Williamson

2002

DIRECTOR,  Jerrie L C Scott (2003)
(University of Memphis, TN)

Danling Fu (2002)
(University of Florida, Gainesville)

Chris DaSilva-Iddings (2004)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Erza Hyland (2004)
(University of Minnesota, Minneapolis)

Marlinda Kaulaity (2003)
(Window Rock High School, Fort Defiance, AZ)

Laurie Katz (2004)
(Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro)

Valerie Kinloch (2005)
(University of Houston)

Richard Meyers (2005)
(University of New Mexico)

William C Spruiell (2002)
(Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant)

Nancy Tolson (2003)
(Illinios State University, Normal)

Demetrice A Worley (2003)
(Bradley University, Peoria, IL)

Executive Committee Liaison, David Bloome
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Kathryn A Egawa  

2001

DIRECTOR,  Judith L Green (2003)
(University of California, Santa Barbara)

Dennis E Baron (2001)
(University of Illinois, Urbana)

Danling Fu (2002)
(University of Florida, Gainesville)

Marlinda Kaulaity (2003)
(Window Rock High School, Fort Defiance, AZ)

Nadeen T Ruiz (2001)
(California State University, Sacramento)

Jerrie L C Scott (2002)
(University of Memphis, TN)

David O Smith (2001)
(Lincoln Northeast High School, NE)

William C Spruiell (2002)
(Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant)

Nancy Tolson (2003)
(Illinios State University, Normal)

Demetrice A Worley (2003)
(Bradley University, Peoria, IL)

Ex officio, Marjorie Farmer (2001)
(Elkins Park, PA)

Executive Committee Liaison, David Bloome
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Kathryn A Egawa