Conference on English Leadership

The Conference on English Leadership (CEL) is a collaborative, dynamic, discussion-based forum for English language arts leaders to explore current and emerging issues. CEL welcomes the involvement of all persons who wish to work with others to seek solutions to problems and to share their special insights with others. Leaders of English programs in a variety of settings--rural or urban, small districts or large, public or private, traditional or experimental--will find a vibrant forum for exploring contrasting and controversial ideas within CEL.

Convention Highlights

The Thirty-Eighth Annual Conference on English Leadership (CEL) Convention was held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.  The convention began with the CEL Luncheon held on Sunday, November 19th with a keynote presentation by Sonia Sanchez, author of more than a dozen books of poetry.  ELQ Editor Bonita Wilcox presented the 2006 CEL ELQ Best Article Award to Susan Groenke, Joellen Maples and Daniel Dunlop and James Strickland was announced as the recipient of the 2006 Exemplary Leadership Award.

Immediately following the luncheon, two general sessions presented by Linda Christensen and Joan T. Wynne officially opened the convention.  The day formally ended with the traditional Sunday social sponsored by Perfection Learning Company.  Monday and Tuesday were filled with outstanding speakers and workshop presenters that included Kathleen Blake Yancey, James Strickland, Leila Christenbury and Alice Randal.  Program Chair Consentine Morgan and Hospitality Chair David Swift are to be commended for their leadership and diligence in organizing the Nashville Convention.

The Saturday CEL High Tea was once again hosted by Bedford St. Martin. Conversations were rich with leadership issues as participants selected three groups to join for discussion and sharing of best practices.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) met twice during the Nashville Convention.  EC members noted that both the Pittsburgh and Nashville Conventions saw a noticeable increase in CEL participation.  The EC agreed that the change in CEL Convention format makes it difficult to conduct business with a longer block of time.   This need supports an annual spring meeting for EC members to plan and organize year-long activities.

The EC met in Chicago on March 24 where there was continued dialogue regarding CEL’s role in commissions. With the membership’s approval of the by-laws revisions, the recommended revisions in the EC handbook were approved.  In addition, it was agreed to change the format of the High Tea session and to conduct a membership survey during next year’s Convention in New York City.

Henry Kiernan, Chair