The Secondary Section Committee is responsible for the governance of NCTE’s Secondary Section.

Highlights of the Annual Convention in Nashville

The Section congratulates Joanne Yatvin, Convention Chair, the convention staff, and the creative and hard working committee for their amazing efforts in making the Nashville Convention the most highly attended convention in NCTE history.

Our opening Get Together on Thursday drew record numbers. The keynote speaker was Anne Patchett, author of Bel Canto, The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, and The Magician’s Assistant. The secondary section planning committee designed an interactive experience using quotes taken from Bel Canto to spark dialogue and engage participants in an exploration of major themes in the author’s work. Members of the section further refined last year’s powerpoint focused on the work of the section entitled “Meet the Secondary Section.” The powerpoint was a powerful tool for acquainting the membership with the work of the secondary section steering committee. Session feedback sheets were collected and used to inform planning for the 2007 Get Together event.

High School Matters, once again drew over 300 attendees to the Friday double session event. The event featured five highly regarded mini-keynote speakers: Carol Jago, Jim Burke, Dixie Goswami, John Golden, and Jane Braunger as well as twenty five teachers who facilitated roundtable sessions on a range of educational topics of interest to secondary educators. Many of the round table sessions were created from the 25 minute presentations submitted during the regular proposal process. This year we received several proposals that were submitted expressly for HS Matters. All attendees were treated to a wine and cheese reception, book prizes, and dedicated time for engaging in dialogue with colleagues from across the country focused on high school issues.

The Secondary Section Luncheon on Saturday featured Alice Sebold author of Lucky and The Lovely Bones. Sebold, skillfully interviewed by Secondary Section Steering Committee Chair, Niki Locklear, held 900 plus ticket holders spellbound as she discussed the intersections between her work and her lived life. Important functions during the luncheon included announcing the recipients of the Teachers of Excellence Awards and The Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Awards.

In addition to these major events, Secondary Section members attended a variety of sessions during the convention in order to gauge the needs and interests of secondary teachers. Secondary members noted the need for more communication between the secondary and two year college community to bridge the gap between high school and college for thousands of students who graduate each year and begin study on community college campuses. As a result TYCA and the Secondary Section Steering Committee began to outline plans for a joint session to put a spotlight on ways to meet the needs of academically under-prepared students.

English Journal
The Secondary Section wishes to congratulate Louann Reid for her continued excellence as editor of English Journal and to offer special thanks to the members of the Paul and Kate Farmer EJ Writing Awards selection committee (Sharon Floyd, Chair, Willa Mae Kippes, Roger Shanley, Tamara Van Whye & Diane Waff) for their time and dedication.

The Paul and Kate Farmer EJ Writing Awards went to:
Lori Cohen and Leyna Peery, "Unveiling Students' Perceptions about women in Islam: January 2006
Jeff Anderson, "Zooming In and Zooming Out: Putting Grammar in Context into Context" May 2006
Honorable Mentions
Melissa McClain, "Rediscovering the Artist, Reinvigorating the Self, Reinventing the Teacher" November 2005
Deb Teitelbaum, "Why is the Sky Blue? using Children's Questions to Motivate Research" March 2006

Teachers of Excellence Awards
In its sixth year, The Teachers of Excellence Awards Committee, Karen Hartman, Keith Younkers and Alan Perry honored 24 teachers.  Promoted through the affiliates with help from Millie Davis, the initiative invites the identification of outstanding high school English Language Arts Teachers from across the country. Affiliates provide background information about each recipient’s achievements. Teachers are encouraged to attend the convention and are recognized with a certificate of achievement and pin from NCTE. This year’s recipients include:
The Alabama Council of Teachers of English: GLENDA BICE
The Arkansas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts :THELMA TARVER
The California Association of Teachers of English: CAROL JAGO
The Colorado Language Arts Society: SHEILA KAEHNY
The Florida Council of Teachers of English: LOUIS W. ROWLAND
The Georgia Council of Teachers of English: KATHLEEN MCKENZIE
The Illinois Association of Teachers of English: MARY R. PHILIP
The Kentucky Council of Teachers of English/Language Arts: JOHN WILLIAMSON
The Michigan Council of Teachers of English: JANICE SCHMIDT
The Minnesota Council of Teachers of English: MARTHA COSGROVE
The Missouri Association of Teachers of English : MARIDELLA CARTER
The Nebraska English Language Arts Council: SHARON BISHOP
The New Hampshire Council of Teachers of English: MARY E. FAY
The New Jersey Council of Teachers of English: MARGO K. SMITH
The New York State English Council : REGINA DUNLAVEY DERRICO
The North Carolina English Teachers Association: DOLORES CUPO
The Ohio Council of Teachers of English Language Arts: SANDINA ALEXANDER
The Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English: MELONIE HAU
The Shelby-Memphis Council of Teachers of English: BILLY PULLEN
The Tennessee Council of Teachers of English: SHARI RAY
The Utah Council of Teachers of English/ Language Arts :MARK SPENCER
The Virginia Association of Teachers of English : NANCY S. MOSKWAY-VADERSEN
The Western Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English: ROBERT DANDOY
The Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English Language Arts: BONNIE FRECHETTE

Departing Colleagues, New Faces and Acknowledgements
The Secondary Section is comprised of hard working and dedicated individuals.  This year a number of valued members left the group as their terms expired. We wish to acknowledge the contributions of Niki Locklear, Edgewood, Kentucky; John Manear, Pittsburg, PA;  Roger Shanley, Tucson, AZ; and Jackie Swenson, Aurora, CO

We also wish to welcome newly elected steering committee members:
Kay Bushman Haas, Olathe District Schools, Olathe, Kansas
Karen Conn Mitcham, Jones County High School, Gray Georgia

We continue to enjoy ongoing support from Felisa Mann, Administrative Liaison, Secondary Section and Jo Anna Wisniewski, Administrative Assistant, to Kent Williamson, Executive Director.

Diane Waff, Chair