Dear IALAS Familia,
We, your IALAS board, have been preparing for our Spring Educational Conference. We hope you will be able to join us on May 7, 2022 (8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.). This year’s theme is El “Encanto” of Seeing Ourselves in the Curriculum! We want to celebrate that we are in person but more importantly the work everyone has been doing with equity, culturally relevant curriculum and emphasizing engagement within our classrooms during a pandemic. We understand that back to normal is not where we are headed nor want to go. The needs that were emphasized by the pandemic have allowed everyone to see the importance of educators and a change in status quo. And for that reason we feel our theme will highlight all the work you have been doing. We hope you consider presenting because we want to learn from you! Here is the link of the RFP.
We are also getting ready to work in our committees with our state affiliate partners. There are 3 committees: Network, Professional Development and Policy.
Why have committees?
To organize the most important work of ALAS and be inclusive in the process.
To consider, shape, and incubate policy to support the organization and affiliates.
To deepen the reciprocal ownership of the "work" from national to state and reversed is emerging and requires the voice of the educator.
To identify issues suitable for State Affiliates and ALAS review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action.
To elevate the voice of our members.
Below describes each committee. Please reach out to me, EAlvarez@ialas.org, if you are interested and want your voice heard. Committee meetings will start by end of March.
Network: Effective recruitment, retainment and practices of promise; Mentorship, SLA, WSPLA, NPLA, Networks etc.
Professional Development: Latino student achievement [possible focus areas]; Third grade reading; HS graduation; Dual Language Immersion
Policy: Support governance for advancing equity [examples]
Equity-Defined Based, Resource Allocation, Culturally-Defined Relevant C, I and A, Student-Teacher-Leadership Pipeline
Representing Illinois are the following leaders: Dr. Olimpia Bahena, Dr. Rocio del Castillo, Angelica Romano, Dr. Minerva Garcia-Sanchez, Theresa Placencia, Edward Brophy and myself.
Finally, nominate a spotlight teacher or leader for our upcoming Spring Conference, please complete this form here.
As always, thank you for all you do. Continue to spread your IALAS wings as anti-racist, equitable, educational leaders. We look forward to seeing you virtually, in-person and especially at the IALAS Spring Conference in May.
Abrazos,
Elizabeth Álvarez, Ph.D.
IALAS President
Follow me on Twitter @EAlvarezD91
