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Welcome from the President! Greetings and welcome to the web page of the Kansas Reading Association! The Kansas Reading Association (KRA) is proud of our membership and our service in the education and literacy of Kansans. The mission of the KRA is to promote learning through quality literacy experiences for all. While KRA members are primarily educators, our membership is open to all who are involved, concerned or interested in reading and its impact on our lives. The theme I have chosen for my presidential year is "Readers Are Leaders: Advocacy, Connections, Teaching!" It is critical that each of us use our voice, share our passion, and promote our profession. Effective teachers are the most influential factor on student learners; KRA promotes quality professional development to help enhance literacy learning. Kansas Reading Association is a nonprofit affiliate of the International Reading Association and consists of nearly eight hundred reading professionals and interested individuals in twenty councils throughout Kansas. KRA is an organization that welcomes all those interested in promoting literacy in Kansas. KRA offers excellent opportunities for networking and resources through our conferences and outstanding publications. KRA membership is an excellent way to become more informed about reading instruction and innovation. KRA is proud of our exceptional Journal of Reading and our bi-annual newsletter. The Kansas Reading Association’s annual conference is another superb way to gain knowledge and understanding of reading issues. KRA conferences provide opportunities to recognize exemplary teachers and educators, volunteers and corporate sponsors of reading in the state of Kansas. KRA annually recognizes Exemplary Reading Programs, Literacy Volunteers, Literacy Professionals and Corporations that support literacy in Kansas. KRA also recognizes individuals making contributions to literacy through our Studies and Research Award and our Outstanding Reading Educator recognition. The Kansas Reading Association has a commitment to partnering with other literacy organizations in Kansas. Our representative affiliations with the Kansas Learning First Alliance, Kansas Association of School Librarians, William Allen White Book Award Selection Committee, and Kansas Center for the Book have enabled KRA members to network with other reading professionals across the State. KRA is especially proud of our Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award. This annual award recognizes the best in children’s literature. Twelve nominees are presented for consideration and the winner is determined by the members of KRA through an online voting poll. Authors and illustrators of the award winning book then present at KRA’s annual state conference each fall. KRA is an extraordinary group of volunteers working to Keep Reading Debbie Mercer |
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