NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
$700 to Attend the 2024 TALE Conference
CONGRATULATIONS
2022-23 TAIR Emerging Literacy Leaders Grant Recipients:
William Roby and Nicole Sussman
2021-22 Recipients: Dr. Shannon Treadville and Dr. Leslie A. Hancock
We are seeking new members for our grant committee. If you would like to join our committee, please contact: Dr. Carol Revelle at carol.revelle@tamuc.edu.
THE TAIR EMERGING LITERACY LEADERS GRANT
Founded in 1947, the Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading was formed when 100 reading leaders across the state were identified by Superintendents across the state.
To promote literacy leadership in the State of Texas, the TAIR Emerging Literacy Leaders Grant seeks to develop leaders in the field of literacy by offering a grant to two potential emerging literacy leaders. The funds from the grant will pay $500 for each of the two potential literacy leaders to attend the annual TALE conference and work with an assigned mentor with the hope that they will emerge from the experience as a future literacy leader in the State of Texas.
We will be granting TWO annual awards for $700 each to emerging leaders to attend the annual conference and work with a mentor.
Submission Timeline
Qualifications
Emerging leaders may have these experiences:
THE TAIR EMERGING LITERACY LEADERS GRANT
Founded in 1947, the Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading was formed when 100 reading leaders across the state were identified by Superintendents across the state.
To promote literacy leadership in the State of Texas, the TAIR Emerging Literacy Leaders Grant seeks to develop leaders in the field of literacy by offering a grant to two potential emerging literacy leaders. The funds from the grant will pay $500 for each of the two potential literacy leaders to attend the annual TALE conference and work with an assigned mentor with the hope that they will emerge from the experience as a future literacy leader in the State of Texas.
We will be granting TWO annual awards for $700 each to emerging leaders to attend the annual conference and work with a mentor.
Submission Timeline
- Application opens first week of August
- Application closes first week of September
- Grant committee reviews applications by the end of September
- Recipients notified & agree to attend the TALE annual conference by end of October
- Recipients announced at the TALE annual conference in February
Qualifications
- Must be a TALE member (join here: http://www.texasreaders.org/join.html#join)
- Experienced in Reading, Literacy, or a connected field that supports literacy development.
- Be a knowledgeable professional
- Agree to participate with a TALE board member in leadership mentoring by attending TALE board meetings and working with the assigned leadership mentor.
- Demonstrates the desire to meet the needs of diverse populations
Emerging leaders may have these experiences:
- Has experience teaching
- Is known as an innovative teacher
- May be a graduate student at a college or university in the State of Texas.
- Has built a culture of reading on a campus or a in a district
- Has organized professional development or programs
- Works with local partners to celebrate student learning
- Conducts research in the field of literacy
- Creates teaching materials or curriculums
Committee Director:
Dr. Carol Revelle
Texas A&M University - Commerce
carol.revelle@tamuc.edu
214-435-2614
Committee Members:
Dr. Kamshia Childs
kamshia.childs@tamuc.edu
Dr. Amanda Gardner
amanda@educvr.com
Malene Golding
malenegolding@gmail.com
Dr. Rene Sawatsky
rene.sawatsky@tamuc.edu
Dr. Fernando Hernandez
fernando.hernandez@tamuk.edu
Dr. Carol Revelle
Texas A&M University - Commerce
carol.revelle@tamuc.edu
214-435-2614
Committee Members:
Dr. Kamshia Childs
kamshia.childs@tamuc.edu
Dr. Amanda Gardner
amanda@educvr.com
Malene Golding
malenegolding@gmail.com
Dr. Rene Sawatsky
rene.sawatsky@tamuc.edu
Dr. Fernando Hernandez
fernando.hernandez@tamuk.edu
TAIR - A Proud Heritage and A Promising Future
In November, 1946, the annual meeting of Texas State Teacher’s Association convened with some 10,000 teachers and administrators in attendance. Of those 10,000 teachers, only 20 attended the Reading Sectional meeting. In order to address the apparent indifference and apathy of Texas teachers concerning the pressing problems in teaching children to read, these 20 teachers banded together and elected Jewel Askew chairperson. They charged Ms. Askew with planning a program to attract teachers to the TSTA Reading Sectional meeting.
Cognizant of the fact that teachers of reading throughout the state needed an organization which would provide an opportunity for them to hear outstanding people in the field of reading, Jewel Askew become acquainted with current research, materials, and people to share successful instructional strategies at the sectional meeting
In 1947, 100 people were identified as reading leaders by Superintendents of every school system in the state with 500 or more students. These people agreed to undertake leadership roles at the next conference by being discussion leaders, consultants, or recorders during the Reading Sectional meeting.
On November 25, 1948, these same 100 participants met in Dallas, Texas, during the Business Sectional meeting to discuss the seriousness of the problem they faced in trying to improve reading programs in the schools across the state. This problem was presented from the conference platform the next morning, and a motion was made that a reading association be organized. The audience members who were willing to support such an organization through membership dues were asked to drop their names and one dollar into a hat. 375 people responded and became the charter members of the present Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading (TAIR).
The First Annual Conference of Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading was held on the campus of Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas, in November 1949. The goal was set to provide a reading conference that cost no more than $50 and was within 200 miles of every teacher in the state.
Sul Ross University also hosted the second TAIR Conference, with the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and West Texas State University joining Sul Ross in offering TAIR conferences by 1952, and Pan American University and Southern Methodist University in 1953. By 1970, TAIR Conferences were offered across the state on 13 different campuses. TAIR conferences continued to serve Texas educators by offering the opportunity to hear speakers relate the latest research in reading methodology and reading assessment, authors of children’s literature speak on the process of writing, and Texas teachers present the effective strategies used in their classrooms.
In 2019, TAIR joined forces with TALE (Texas Association for Literacy Educators) to promote literacy leadership through grants and awards. The initial goal of the charter membership of TAIR to hold a reading conference within reach of every teacher has been achieved. Because of the support of outstanding teachers and administrators and the dynamic leadership at both the state and local levels, TAIR will continues its mission to teach all children of Texas to read. TAIR – a proud heritage, a meaningful present, a promising future.
Cognizant of the fact that teachers of reading throughout the state needed an organization which would provide an opportunity for them to hear outstanding people in the field of reading, Jewel Askew become acquainted with current research, materials, and people to share successful instructional strategies at the sectional meeting
In 1947, 100 people were identified as reading leaders by Superintendents of every school system in the state with 500 or more students. These people agreed to undertake leadership roles at the next conference by being discussion leaders, consultants, or recorders during the Reading Sectional meeting.
On November 25, 1948, these same 100 participants met in Dallas, Texas, during the Business Sectional meeting to discuss the seriousness of the problem they faced in trying to improve reading programs in the schools across the state. This problem was presented from the conference platform the next morning, and a motion was made that a reading association be organized. The audience members who were willing to support such an organization through membership dues were asked to drop their names and one dollar into a hat. 375 people responded and became the charter members of the present Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading (TAIR).
The First Annual Conference of Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading was held on the campus of Sul Ross State College in Alpine, Texas, in November 1949. The goal was set to provide a reading conference that cost no more than $50 and was within 200 miles of every teacher in the state.
Sul Ross University also hosted the second TAIR Conference, with the University of Houston, Texas Southern University and West Texas State University joining Sul Ross in offering TAIR conferences by 1952, and Pan American University and Southern Methodist University in 1953. By 1970, TAIR Conferences were offered across the state on 13 different campuses. TAIR conferences continued to serve Texas educators by offering the opportunity to hear speakers relate the latest research in reading methodology and reading assessment, authors of children’s literature speak on the process of writing, and Texas teachers present the effective strategies used in their classrooms.
In 2019, TAIR joined forces with TALE (Texas Association for Literacy Educators) to promote literacy leadership through grants and awards. The initial goal of the charter membership of TAIR to hold a reading conference within reach of every teacher has been achieved. Because of the support of outstanding teachers and administrators and the dynamic leadership at both the state and local levels, TAIR will continues its mission to teach all children of Texas to read. TAIR – a proud heritage, a meaningful present, a promising future.
TAIR's Past-Presidents 1948 - 2018
1948 Francis Thorpe Masterson, Wharton
1949 Josephine Linn, Alpine
1950 Mina Lee Mitchell, Dallas
1951 Louise Orr, Amarillo
1952 Sheila Roach, Andrews
1953 Troy Case, Baytown
1954 Artie Mae Burkett, Haskell
1955 Jewell Askew, Houston
1956 Belma Meeker, Dallas
1957 Edna Miller, Corpus Christi
1958 Bennett Cooksey, Longview
1959 Evelyn Thompson, Houston
1960 Hazel Strickland, Odessa
1961 Trula Maud Jetton, Lubbock
1962 Marie Clark, Amarillo
1963 Hazel Horn Carroll, Dallas
1964 Marjorie Martin, Corpus Christi
1965 Kate Bell, Houston
1966 Grady Coates, Pine Tree-Longview
1967 Rachel Maxey
1968 Maurine Walker, San Antonio
1969 Margaret Grogan, Beaumont
1970 Margaret Grogan, Beaumont
1971 Hazel Saunderman, Canyon
1972 John Thornton, Nacogdoches
1973 Mildred Ardia, Austin
1974 James Wylie, Waco
1975 Virginia Davis, Edinburg
1976 Bonnie McCullough, Lubbock
1977 Kenneth D. Black, Aldine
1978 Frances R. Middleton, Dallas
1979 Carl Pride, Canyon
1980 Eleanor Dugger, Austin
1981 Myrtle Richardson, Orange
1982 Beverly S. Young, Nacogdoches
1983 Lester G. Butler, Lubbock
1984 Lester G. Butler, Lubbock
1985 Ralph Brown, Wichita Fallas
1986 Janice Mumford, Dallas
1987 Susan Y. Paynter, Waco
1988 C. Ann Terry, Waco
1989 Pat Simpson, Lubbock
1990 Graciela Farias, McAllen
1991 Hellon Wilbur, Canyon
1992 Conchis Silva, Dallas
1993 Elvia Rodriguez, Nacogdoches
1994 Geraldine Haggard, Plano
1995 Al Tucker, Alpine
1996 Andrea Karlin, Beaumont
1997 Michael Sampson, Commerce
1998 Linda Ellis, Nacogdoches
1999 Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls
2000 Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls
2001 Nancy Conners, Dallas
2002 Nancy Conners, Dallas
2003 Margaret Hill, Clear Lake
2004 Margaret Hill, Clear Lake
2005 Randy Wood, Waco
2006 Randy Wood, Waco
2007 Cathy Davis, Austin
2008 Cathy Davis, Austin
2009 Lillian McEnery, Clear Lake
2010 Lillian McEnery, Clear Lake
2011 Leslie Patterson
2012 Leslie Patterson
2013 Kathy Stephens
2014 Kathy Stephens
2015 Margaret Thomson
2016 Margaret Thomson
2017 Carol Revelle
2018 Carol Revelle
1949 Josephine Linn, Alpine
1950 Mina Lee Mitchell, Dallas
1951 Louise Orr, Amarillo
1952 Sheila Roach, Andrews
1953 Troy Case, Baytown
1954 Artie Mae Burkett, Haskell
1955 Jewell Askew, Houston
1956 Belma Meeker, Dallas
1957 Edna Miller, Corpus Christi
1958 Bennett Cooksey, Longview
1959 Evelyn Thompson, Houston
1960 Hazel Strickland, Odessa
1961 Trula Maud Jetton, Lubbock
1962 Marie Clark, Amarillo
1963 Hazel Horn Carroll, Dallas
1964 Marjorie Martin, Corpus Christi
1965 Kate Bell, Houston
1966 Grady Coates, Pine Tree-Longview
1967 Rachel Maxey
1968 Maurine Walker, San Antonio
1969 Margaret Grogan, Beaumont
1970 Margaret Grogan, Beaumont
1971 Hazel Saunderman, Canyon
1972 John Thornton, Nacogdoches
1973 Mildred Ardia, Austin
1974 James Wylie, Waco
1975 Virginia Davis, Edinburg
1976 Bonnie McCullough, Lubbock
1977 Kenneth D. Black, Aldine
1978 Frances R. Middleton, Dallas
1979 Carl Pride, Canyon
1980 Eleanor Dugger, Austin
1981 Myrtle Richardson, Orange
1982 Beverly S. Young, Nacogdoches
1983 Lester G. Butler, Lubbock
1984 Lester G. Butler, Lubbock
1985 Ralph Brown, Wichita Fallas
1986 Janice Mumford, Dallas
1987 Susan Y. Paynter, Waco
1988 C. Ann Terry, Waco
1989 Pat Simpson, Lubbock
1990 Graciela Farias, McAllen
1991 Hellon Wilbur, Canyon
1992 Conchis Silva, Dallas
1993 Elvia Rodriguez, Nacogdoches
1994 Geraldine Haggard, Plano
1995 Al Tucker, Alpine
1996 Andrea Karlin, Beaumont
1997 Michael Sampson, Commerce
1998 Linda Ellis, Nacogdoches
1999 Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls
2000 Mark Lukert, Wichita Falls
2001 Nancy Conners, Dallas
2002 Nancy Conners, Dallas
2003 Margaret Hill, Clear Lake
2004 Margaret Hill, Clear Lake
2005 Randy Wood, Waco
2006 Randy Wood, Waco
2007 Cathy Davis, Austin
2008 Cathy Davis, Austin
2009 Lillian McEnery, Clear Lake
2010 Lillian McEnery, Clear Lake
2011 Leslie Patterson
2012 Leslie Patterson
2013 Kathy Stephens
2014 Kathy Stephens
2015 Margaret Thomson
2016 Margaret Thomson
2017 Carol Revelle
2018 Carol Revelle
