[NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board

[Gail Spangenberg]

Friends,   I have been following this conversation for a while, and 
want to throw a different kind of thought into the hopper.  I think 
we'll be very, very lucky to get even a few ADULT literacy people on 
the new NIFL board.  So I'm inclined to think that our energies right 
now might best be directed toward the goal of retaining the "adult" 
in literacy as part of the NIFL agenda.  Whether the ADULT literacy 
members are students, or professionals from the field, or business 
leaders, or other good folks from other quarters, it seems to me to 
be extremely important in the present political climate to put 
forward candidates with the highest possible visibility, clout, and 
political savvy--people committed to adult literacy that Congress 
will pay attention to.  I guess I'm being Machiavellian, but the 
times seem increasingly unfriendly to adult literacy.  A colleague 
once said a very wise thing about advancing a desired goal in adult 
education and literacy; he said, "you've got to keep your eye on the 
target."   I'd hate to see us fall into "fiddling while Rome burns." 
Gail Spangenberg

>Janet, et. al.,
>It is my hope that the board will include a representative from the numeracy
>community.  The Adult Numeracy Network board includes several likely
>candidates.  Please, expand the national vision of literacy....
>Tricia Donovan
>Curriculum Developer/Writer
>TERC
>Cambridge, MA 02140
>
>----------
>>From: "hartman" <hartman at thebell.org>
>>To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
>>Subject: RE: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
>>Date: Wed, Nov 28, 2001, 4:25 PM
>>
>
>>  Janet
>>
>>  The Bush Administration is currently in the process of selecting and
>>  screening candidates for the NIFL Board.  The terms of all the current
>>  members' have expired, and they are only serving until replaced.
>>
>>  Members of the Board will likely be selected based on both what they
>>  know and who they know (or, at least, who advocates for them).  So, if
>>  anyone has an idea of who should be on the Board, they need to act
>>  quickly to get their candidate in the mix.
>>
>>  I think having an adult learner (current or former) would be a good
>>  addition.  You would need to find a champion for the candidate...someone
>>  who has "traction" within this Administration.
>>
>>  Andy Hartman
>>  Director, Policy and Research
>>  The Bell Policy Center
>>  1801 Broadway, Suite 280
>>  Denver, Colorado   80202
>>  hartman at thebell.com
>>
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org
>>  [mailto:nla-admin at lists.literacytent.org] On Behalf Of Janet Isserlis
>>  Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 3:59 PM
>>  To: nla at lists.literacytent.org
>>  Subject: [NLA] learner leadership/NIFL board
>>
>>  Colleagues,
>>
>>    I'm wondering if anyone is aware of the current status and
>>  composition of the Board of Directors of NIFL.  As VALUE and other
>>  learner-led organizations have gained expertise in working with
>>  local, state and national literacy organizations, it seems that the
>>  time is right for there to be representation of adult learner leaders
>>  within those organizations, and particularly on the NIFL board.
>  > Archie Willard, former president of VALUE, is one excellent candidate
>  > that comes to mind.  I would like to see us take up the issue of
>  > supporting the work of learner leaders, and particularly, hope to see
>>  NIFL add those leaders to their board.   While there is still no
>>  shortage of need for qualified  teachers to work with learners, I do
>>  believe that the number of  learner leaders who are very capable
>>  advocates has grown and that we  need to recognize, celebrate and
>>  heed their voices.  In addition to asking out loud about the status
>>  of the NIFL board, I'm also wondering if others on the list have
>>  experiences to share around working with adult learner leaders -- and
>>  especially hope that those leaders will share their own experiences,
>>  too.
>>
>>  Janet Isserlis
>>
>>
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-- 
Gail Spangenberg
President
Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy
1221 Avenue of the Americas - 50th Floor
New York, NY 10020
212-512-2362, fax 212-512-2610
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