[AAACE-NLA] Update: NIFL Director Letter Sign-on - March4thDeadline!

Fri Feb 27 12:24:04 EST 2004

The list of signatures is now up to 35!  

Please consider adding your name to those of your colleagues.

David

David Collings
AAACE-NLA Moderator
david at collings.com

-----Original Message-----
From: aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org
[mailto:aaace-nla-bounces at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of Daphne
Greenberg
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 8:49 AM
To: National Literacy Advocacy List sponsored by AAACE
Subject: [AAACE-NLA] Update: NIFL Director Letter Sign-on -
March4thDeadline!

WOW! In less than 24 hours 14 people have already signed on!!!!!!! This
is FANTASTIC!!!! By the way, I am sorry that my initial posting was
poorly formatted-so I am sending the announcement out again, and this
time it will hopefully be easier to read and follow. Here it is:

Action: NIFL Director Letter Sign-on - March 4th Deadline!

Colleagues:

We understand that a new, permanent National Institute for Literacy
(NIFL) director will be chosen this year, possibly as soon as the end of
June.  We also understand that the NIFL Advisory Board is currently
drafting selection criteria for a national search that will be launched
in 1-2 weeks.

If you scroll down, below you will find two letters, one addressed to
the NIFL Advisory Board, one to the Interagency Group that governs NIFL.
They contain suggested guidelines for selecting a new director. These
guidelines were originally drafted by the National Coalition for
Literacy (NCL) and signed by 12 Representatives and 18 Senators from
last winter, 2002 (To see the historical documents go to:
http://savenifl.org/congress_letter.html
http://savenifl.org/senate_letter.html)

Since we understand everyone is busy, we have come up with a simple way
for us to voice common concerns with those who govern NIFL.  Follow
these steps:

1) Scroll down and read the two letters

2) If you agree with the content of the letters and would like us to
send them on your behalf, send an email to newNIFLdirector at yahoo.com
that reads: "Please add my name to both NIFL Director letters." Be sure
to include your name, City/town and state.  Though you may choose not to
do so, it is important to include a title and organizational
affiliation.  Our titles give credibility to our statement.

It is important that we speak with one unified voice - adult and family
literacy advocates and professional organizations, the NCL, and
legislators who all believe a permanent NIFL director should be fully
informed in adult and family literacy practices and committed to the
NIFL mission and functions described in the National Literacy Act of
1991 and Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

Below are the letters:

====================================================
1) This letter will be sent to the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of
Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, who head the Interagency Group:

As the NIFL Board begins its search for a permanent Executive Director,
we would like to take this opportunity to share with you our views
regarding the qualities needed for this critical position.  We
respectfully ask the Interagency Group to include the criteria described
below when reviewing the Advisory Board's recommendation.

The mission of the NIFL, as originally set out in the National Literacy
Act of 1991 and maintained in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, is
to provide leadership primarily in the fields of adult and family
literacy.  As the NIFL is a resource for basic education instruction for
all ages, and as the NIFL Advisory Board has impressive backgrounds in
early childhood and post-secondary education, it is most important for a
new NIFL Director to have expertise in research, development, and policy
on adult and family literacy issues.

Over one year ago, twelve members of the House of Representatives and
eighteen Senators wrote you sharing their concerns regarding the NIFL
Directorship and requested that you consider several qualities as
guidelines when selecting a NIFL Director.  We ask that you strongly
consider these as criteria, that you select a NIFL Director who is:

- conversant in adult education issues, research, and the diverse array
of providers that comprise the delivery system;

- passionate about building an adult learning system that integrates
services;

- knowledgeable of the variety of models and collaborative arrangements;
and

- articulate in describing how adult literacy and language education
enhances pre-K-12, post-secondary, and vocational education, job
training, health care, welfare reform, economic development, and
post-prison success.

We encourage you to hire a permanent director of NIFL who has a strong
commitment to and track record in adult and family literacy, and is
committed to preserving the mission and functions of the NIFL as
outlined in the 1991 and 1998 legislation.

===================================================
2) This letter will be sent to the NIFL Advisory Board:

As you begin your search for a permanent Executive Director, we would
like to take this opportunity to share with you our views regarding the
qualities needed for this critical position.  We respectfully ask the
NIFL Advisory Board to include the criteria below when considering
candidates to recommend to the Interagency Group.

The mission of the NIFL, as originally set out in the National Literacy
Act of 1991 and maintained in the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, is
to provide leadership primarily in the fields of adult and family
literacy.  As the NIFL is a resource for basic education instruction for
all ages, and as the NIFL Advisory Board has impressive backgrounds in
early childhood and post-secondary education, it is most important for a
new NIFL Director to have expertise in research, development, and policy
on adult and family literacy issues.

Over one year ago, twelve members of the House of Representatives and
eighteen Senators wrote the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of
Education, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services, sharing their concerns regarding the NIFL
Directorship and requested that they consider several qualities as
guidelines when selecting a NIFL Director.  We ask that you strongly
consider these as criteria when you review candidates for recommendation
to the Interagency Group.

We ask that you recommend a candidate for a NIFL Director who is:

- conversant in adult education issues, research, and the diverse array
of providers that comprise the delivery system;

- passionate about building an adult learning system that integrates
services;

- knowledgeable of the variety of models and collaborative arrangements;
and

- articulate in describing how adult literacy and language education
enhances pre-K-12, post-secondary, and vocational education, job
training, health care, welfare reform, economic development, and
post-prison success.

We encourage you to make a recommendation for a permanent director of
NIFL who has a strong commitment to and track record in adult and family
literacy, and is committed to preserving the mission and functions of
the NIFL as outlined in the 1991 and 1998 legislation.
====================================================

As a reminder, in order for us to send these letters on your behalf:

By Thursday, March 4, send an email to newNIFLdirector at yahoo.com that
reads: "Please add my name to both NIFL Director letters." Be sure to
include your name, city/town and state.  Though you may choose not to do
so, it is important to include a title and organizational affiliation.
Our titles give credibility to our statement.

Thanks!

Daphne Greenberg
Center for the Study of Adult Literacy
Georgia State University

Jackie Taylor
Vice-Chair
Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers

David J. Rosen, Ed.D.
Adult Literacy Advocate
Boston, Massachusetts

David Collings
List Moderator
AAACE-NLA

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