Teaching English is hard. Stacks of essays pile up and developing creative and engaging lesson plans for every day of the school year can sometimes exhaust a teacher’s stores of ideas. The kids keep us motivated, but sometimes we need to find inspiration from other educators. I teach English and Theory of Knowledge at Edgewood High School in West Covina, CA. In addition, I advise the Beyond the Book Chapter of NEHS and the newly chartered The Book and Beyond Chapter of ELA. Keeping my work with students relevant and creative is not something that is best done alone in front of my laptop; collaboration with educators is the best source of ideas and innovation.
The NCTE annual convention is a font of creativity and inspiration for those in attendance. With the help of a Professional Support Grant from NEHS that assisted with registration fees, I was able to attend the November 2023 convention in Columbus, OH. My goals for attending included participating in the Standing Committee Against Censorship (SCAC)—of which I am a member—, learning about ways to continue to enhance and grow my school’s NEHS and ELA organizations, learning about young adult literature and young adult authors, and continuing to develop my skills in creating curriculum and equitable assessment practices.
I got on the plane to Ohio feeling like I just needed to make it to winter break and came home fired up and filled with ideas for my classroom, my NEHS and ELA chapters, and motivated to continue to work against censorship in education. Keynote speakers Jacqueline Woodson, Tom Hanks, and Angie Thomas were inspiring, but the little connections made with other educators are priceless. From book recommendations received while in line for my morning coffee, to new teachers to follow on Instagram, it was a weekend filled with educational gems that will come straight into my classroom.
With the SCAC, I learned about current research on book banning trends and how both educators and students are working to keep access to diverse books available in classrooms and libraries. In sessions centered on curriculum, instruction, and assessment, I gathered new tools for addressing trauma in literature, making texts and assignments relevant to teens, and bringing community luminaries into the classroom. Kyleen Beers presented some powerful ideas on how to shift students’ views of themselves to see themselves as readers, thinkers, and writers, and in the expo hall I ran into a book seller from my local community who provided me with a list of authors whom I can contact about speaking in my classes.
Although I have been advising NEHS for several years now, through attending an NEHS session, I learned that our chapter can build an international partnership with a chapter in another country. This will be our next big NEHS project as it is a perfect fit for our International Baccalaureate school.
The 2023 NCTE convention was entitled Conexiones, and this is exactly the greatest value of attending. Connections with fellow educators. Connections to authors. Connections to visionaries and innovators who inspire and keep individual teachers like me motivated and creative.
Katie Burnett
Professional Support Grant Recipient, 2023
Beyond the Book Chapter, Advisor
Edgewood High School, West Covina, CA
Professional Support Grants
NEHS recognizes and celebrates the invaluable dedication of its Chapter Advisors, who tirelessly strive to enhance their teaching practices and positively impact their students’ educational journeys. In support of this commitment to continuous improvement, NEHS offers Professional Support Grants designed to empower educators in expanding their expertise and skills within the English Language Arts and related fields.
By investing in the professional growth of Chapter Advisors, NEHS not only enhances the educational experiences within its chapters but also empowers educators to inspire and enable their students effectively. These grants exemplify NEHS’ unwavering commitment to fostering a community of lifelong learners dedicated to advancing literacy and enriching educational practices.
Professional Support Grant funding can be used to cover the costs of:
- Registration to a local, state, or national conference or convention focused either on the English language arts or other issue of importance to the Advisor’s work as an educator
- Fees for educational courses, seminars, speakers, or presentations related to some aspect of the English language arts or other issue of importance to the Advisor’s work as an educator
- Professional, pedagogical texts selected to enhance teaching skills or a set of texts to be used within English department at the Advisor’s school
- Pedagogical resources (including, but not limited to, posters, bulletin board materials, identity/heritage month celebration materials) that will promote belonging in the Advisor’s classroom
Applications will next be accepted during the Winter Awards Cycle, which will be open December 9 – January 13.
Learn More: Professional Support Grants
