Why WSRA?

By WSRA President, Deborah Cromer

This summer when people have asked me what I’ve been doing over the three months’ break, I’ve told them about my journey to England to see family and the trips I’ve made as part of my work as the current president of WSRA. Some friends and neighbors who know how much time I’ve been away because of WSRA have asked me why I give up precious vacation days during the summer and on weekends during the school year for one organization. Their questions have prompted me to think deeply about the value that WSRA adds to my life. Why WSRA? Here are my reasons.

By joining WSRA, literacy educators have access to a network of professionals who care deeply about literacy teaching and learning and who work together to make sure ALL students in Wisconsin become literate so that they can survive and thrive in this complex world. By becoming part of WSRA’s Leadership, educators can share their expertise at the state level and learn from and with other literacy professionals to grow their knowledge exponentially. Here are some of the benefits that I believe members gain from joining and becoming part of the leadership of our organization.

Benefits of joining WSRA:

• Being a part of a nonprofit professional learning organization of over 2,500 literacy educators in Wisconsin
• Receiving publications such as the WSRA Journal, the WSRA Update, WSRA Hotline messages, and the WSRA InTouch online newsletter that provide information such as current literacy research, literacy events in our state, legislative actions impacting literacy teaching and learning, DPI updates, and more
• Learning ways to advocate for wise decision-making about literacy teaching and learning by legislators and policy makers
• Attending institutes about topics of importance to Wisconsin literacy educators
• Attending our annual convention which draws nationally and internationally known speakers and attendees from other states
• Networking with other literacy professionals who hold onto the Red Thread of meaning and purpose together

Benefits of joining WSRA Leadership:

• Serving on the Board of Directors, as a WSRA committee chair/member, or as a local council officer
• Working with other literacy professionals to share expertise and build our knowledge base
• Planning professional learning events about topics of concern to WI literacy educators
• Receiving updates from DPI liaisons and the WSRA Legislative Committee Chair about policies and legislative actions that impact WI educators and, ultimately, over 850,000 students
• Developing collaborative professionalism to expand our own self-directed learning
• Having a network of literacy professionals to consult regarding concerns related to literacy teaching and learning
• Participating in the Read It Forward project to build our knowledge base about relevant topics
• Being a part of a professional family who supports us as literacy educators and as human beings doing this work

What makes us who we are?

• We are a nonprofit organization.
• We are about professional literacy learning.
• We hold onto the Red Thread of our mission, goals, and beliefs as we learn, plan, and act together.
• Our mission, goals, and beliefs are focused on professional learning about literacy instruction.
• Our members are self-directed learners who understand the importance of collaborative professionalism.

As we work together this year, please consider why you are a part of WSRA, what you value most about being a member and a leader, what you can do to make sure other literacy educators know about our organization and what we stand for, and what you can do to advance our mission, goals, and beliefs throughout the year.