Commission on Literature

Charge: The Commission on Literature is a deliberative and advisory body which each year identifies and reports to the NCTE Executive Committee:

• on key issues in the teaching of literature
• reviews what the Council has done concerning literature during the year
• recommends new projects and persons who might undertake them

The Commission:

• monitors current and projected NCTE publications (other than journals)
• suggests topics for future NCTE publications on literature
• performs a similar role of review and recommendation for the NCTE Annual Convention program

Occasionally, the Commission undertakes further tasks and projects as approved by the Executive Committee.  

(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, Judi Franzak (2009)
(Montana State University, Bozeman)

Bettie Parsons Barger (2010)
(Franklin Road Academy, Nashville, TN)

Christina Bausch (2010)
(Lawton High School, OK)

Christopher Paul Curtis (2008)
(Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Maureen B. Harris (2009)
Young Scholars Charter School, Philadelphia, PA)

INCOMING, Joyce Herbeck (2009)
(Montana State University, Bozeman)

Dick Koblitz (2009)
(R.M. Captain Elementary School, Clayton, MO)

Elizabeth Primas (2009)
(D.C. Public Schools)

Gary Schmidt (2010)
(Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI)

Susan J. Wegmann (2010)
(University of Central Florida, Orlando)

Executive Committee Liaision, Joanne Yatvin
(Portland, OR)

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2007

DIRECTOR, Judi Franzak (2009)
(Montana State University, Bozeman)

Lynne Bercaw (2007)
(Appalachian State University, Boone, NC)

Christopher Paul Curtis (2008)
(Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Maureen B. Harris (2009)
Young Scholars Charter School, Philadelphia, PA)

Immaculate Kizza (2007)
(University of Tennessee, Chattanooga)

Dick Koblitz (2009)
(R.M. Captain Elementary School, Clayton, MO)

Elizabeth Primas (2009)
(D.C. Public Schools)

Renee Shea (2007)
(Bowie State University, MD)

Wendy Matheson Simeone (2007)
(Carver High School, MA)

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

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2006

DIRECTOR, Ann Neely (2006)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Lynne Bercaw (2007)
(Appalachian State University, Boone, NC)

Christopher Paul Curtis (2008)
(Windsor, Ontario, Canada)

Judi Franzak (2007)
(Montana State University, Bozeman)

Immaculate Kizza (2007)
(University of Tennessee, Chattanooga)

Elizabeth Noll (2006)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Sarah Robbins (2006)
(Kennesaw State University, GA)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2006)
(Community High School, Ann Arbor, MI)

Renee Shea (2007)
(Bowie State University, MD)

Wendy Matheson Simeone (2007)
(Carver High School, MA)

Janet S Wong (2006)
(Hopewell, NJ)

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

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2005

DIRECTOR, Ann Neely (2006)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Lynne Bercaw (2007)
(Appalachian State University, Boone, NC)

Judi Franzak (2007)
(Montana State University, Bozeman)

Immaculate Kizza (2007)
(University of Tennessee, Chattanooga)

Elizabeth Noll (2006)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Sarah Robbins (2006)
(Kennesaw State University, GA)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2006)
(Community High School, Ann Arbor, MI)

Renee Shea (2007)
(Bowie State University, MD)

Wendy Matheson Simeone (2007)
(Carver High School, MA)

William Spurlin (2005)
(Cardiff University, Great Britain)

Cynthia Williams (2005)
(Little Rock, AR)

Janet S Wong (2005)
(Medina, WA)

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

NCTE Administrative Liaison, Linda Walters

2004

DIRECTOR, Ann Neely (2006)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Carlotta Martza (2004)
(Twin Buttes High School, Zuni, NM)

Elizabeth Noll (2006)
(University of New Mexico, Albuquerque)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2006)
(Community High School, Ann Arbor, MI)

Sarah Robbins (2006)
(Kennesaw State University, GA)

William Spurlin (2005)
(Cardiff University, Great Britain)

Betty Tillman (2004)
(Raoul Wallenberg High School, San Francisco)

Lawana Trout (2004)
(University of Central Oklahoma, Emerita)

Cynthia Williams (2005)
(Little Rock, AR)

Janet S Wong (2005)
(Medina, WA) 

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

NCTE Staff Liaison, Jo Anna Wisniewski

2003

DIRECTOR, Elizabeth Horikawa (2003)
(Madison, WI)

Jennifer Drake (2003)
(Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)

Mark A Faust (2003)
(University of Georgia, Athens) 

Carlotta Martza (2004)
(Twin Buttes High School, Zuni, NM)

Ann Neely (2006)
(Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2003)
(Community High School, Ann Arbor, MI)

William Spurlin (2005)
(London, England)

Betty Tillman (2004)
(Raoul Wallenberg High School, San Francisco)

Lawana Trout (2004)
(University of Central Oklahoma, Emerita)

Cynthia Williams (2005)
(Little Rock, AR)

Janet S Wong (2002)
(Medina, WA) 

Executive Committee Liaison, Leila Christenbury
(Virginia Commonwealth University)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Kent Williamson

2002

DIRECTOR, Elizabeth Horikawa (2003)
(Madison, WI)

Bonnie M Davis (2002)
(Co-op School Dist, St. Louis, MO)

Jennifer Drake (2003)
(Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)

Mark A Faust (2003)
(University of Georgia, Athens)

Mary Jo Fox (2002)
(Olathe School District, KS)

Carlotta Martza (2004)
(Twin Buttes High School, Zuni, NM)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2003)
(Ann Arbor, MI)

Betty Tillman (2004)
(Raoul Wallenberg High School, San Francisco)

Lawana Trout (2004)
(University of Central Oklahoma, Emerita)

Janet S Wong (2002)
(Medina, WA)

Ex officio, Sheridan Blau (2003)
(University of California, Santa Barbara)

Ex officio, Phyllis Franklin
(Modern Language Association, New York)

Executive Committee Liaison, Patricia Harkin
(University of Illinois-Chicago)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Dale Allender  

2001

DIRECTOR, Elizabeth Horikawa (2003)
(Madison, WI)

Bonnie M Davis (2002)
(Co-op School Dist, St. Louis, MO)

Jennifer Drake (2003)
(Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD)

Mark A Faust (2003)
(University of Georgia, Athens)

Mary Jo Fox (2002)
(Olathe School District, KS)

John W Gaughan (2001)
(Lockland High School, OH)

James R Lockhart Jr (2001)
(Clayton High School, MO)

Carlotta Martza (2004)
(Twin Buttes High School, Zuni, NM)

Michael T Moore (2003)
(Georgia Southern University, Statesboro)

Tracy A Rosewarne (2003)
(Ann Arbor, MI)

Lawana Trout (2004)
(University of Central Oklahoma, Emerita)

Janet S Wong (2002)
(Medina, WA)

Ex officio, Sheridan Blau (2003)
(University of California, Santa Barbara)

Ex officio, Phyllis Franklin
(Modern Language Association, New York)

Executive Committee Liaison, Kathleen Blake Yancey
(University of Illinois-Chicago)

NCTE Staff Liaison, Dale Allender