Fall 2017 Volume 41, Issue 1

The Reader
Advocating for literacy in the Omaha Metropolitan
Area
A local council of the And the International
Nebraska State Reading Reading Association
Association Metropolitan Reading Council—
Omaha, Nebraska
 The Reader
Published since 1966
Metropolitan Reading Council #30400
Chartered in 1965
Fall
http://www.metropolitanreadingcouncil.org
2017
Metropolitan Reading Council
Executive Board 2017-2018

President Abby Burke, Ed.D

University of NE Omaha

Past President Abby Burke, Ed.D

University of NE Omaha

President-Elect

Vice President JoAnna Hale

Omaha Public Schools

Treasurer Linda Placzek

Executive Secretary Audrey McNamara

Information Manager Renee McArthur

Bellevue Public Schools

Publications/Social Media Elesha Harris

University of NE Omaha

MRC Website: http://www.metroreadingcouncil.org/

“Like” us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/metroreadingcouncil/ and
follow us on Twitter: OmahaMRC

Volume 41, Issue 1 Page 2

 A Message from our
President
Abby J. Burke, Ed. D--MRC President ajburke@unomaha.edu

I have truly enjoyed growing as an educator alongside members

of the Metropolitan Reading Council. In fact, I have enjoyed it so
much that I decided to serve a second term as the 2017-2018 Metropolitan
Reading Council, President. Because our membership increased more than 10%
during the previous school year, I had the opportunity to work closely with more
amazing literacy advocates!

I am particularly excited to work with our newly elected Vice President, JoAnna
Hale. She has a love of literacy, a knack for writing and she’s also got a sense of
humor! MRC has much to offer the metropolitan Omaha community in the area of
literacy education.

Page 3
The Reader
 JoAnna Hale--MRC Vice President
joanna.hale@ops.org

As a new member and current vice president of

the Metropolitan Reading Council I have been
thinking a lot about what it means to be a member
of an organization. I was not sure what a reading
council would have to offer me, a high school
English teacher. I have since realized that the
Metropolitan Reading Council has plenty to
provide, and that I have plenty to give my fellow
council members. When you join the Metropolitan Reading Council you are gaining
access to a vast networking system that can help you better navigate your school and
classroom. You gain valuable curriculum and literacy strategies that can help you refine
your teaching practices. Most importantly, you give back to the community. This past
year we were able to donate books to a refugee family with four children. This coming
year we are planning on working with Habitat for Humanity. When you join the
Metropolitan Reading Council you are gaining the expertise and research backed
knowledge of hundreds of fellow educators and are gaining a chance to give back to
the community that you know and love. Please think about referring fellow educators to
this great organization!

If you know someone that is interested in joining MRC, more information

can be found at http://www.metroreadingcouncil.org/

MEMBERSHIP REMINDERS
Have you RENEWED yet? Don't forget to renew your Metropolitan Reading
Council membership for 2017-2018. You should have received a renewal notice
and membership card in the mail. You can also renew online at
http://www.nereads.org/membership.html.

The Metro Reading Council is going digital! You will receive The Reader and
other publications via e-mail. When completing your renewal, please be sure
your e-mail address is up to date! If you are not sure whether we have your
correct address on file, feel free to contact Renee McArthur, MRC Information
Manager (rlmcarthur@cox.net).

Volume 41, Issue 1 Page 4

 Save the Date! Feb. 22-24, 2018
45th Nebraska State Reading Conference, Kearney, NE

Join us for 1, 2, or all 3 days of

literacy experts, authors, exhibits, and
professional networking
Nebraska’s Premier Conference for Reading and
Language Arts

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018

Exhibits Open Exhibits Open

A.M. & P.M. Workshops Featured Speakers Early Childhood Institute

Douglas Fisher - President of
International Literacy Association,
professor of educational leadership,
Visible Learning for Literacy
Ralph Fletcher - educational
consultant, and author for children and
professional educators
Welcome Reception social with wine,
snacks, and door prizes
Poetry Slam
Nell K Duke - educator and
literacy researcher
Jordan Sonnenblick -
author, books for children and
young adults fiction
Monica Burns - EdTech &
Curriculum Consultant
Breakout Sessions
Author Luncheons
Featured Speakers
Dinah Zike & Judith Youngers -
Foldables for Early Learners:
Manipulatives and Stations
Penny Gildea - Early Language and
Literacy for Infants and Toddlers
Mary Beth Pistillo - Early Learning
Guidelines, Literacy and Language
Development
Luncheon

Mary Ann Manning Scholarship &

Awards Banquet
The Featured Speaker list will grow and weave into Nebraska’s Premier Literacy Conference. Check
out: https://goo.gl/4LbtmK or the provided QR Code below.

Conference Proposals are now open until November 3, 2017. https://goo.gl/forms/Bjf0hALjDlpMozBA2

Become an NSRA member in order to receive the discounted registration fee and join a group of
professionals dedicated to Promoting Literacy in Nebraska. Join online on our website.
Conference Registration will open in November.

To keep updated and to join NSRA, http://www.nereads.org/

Join NSRA on facebook: Nebraska State Reading Association
Follow NSRA on Twitter: @NebraskaReads

Page 5
The Reader
 All the reading she had done
had given her a view of life they
had never seen.
-Roald Dahl, Matilda.

This fall, MRC sponsored a book drive

with the goal of providing a personal
library to two children whose families were
partnering with Habitat for Humanity. It
was such a treat for MRC President Abby
Burke and Vice President JoAnna Hale to
meet many of the women who participated
in the building process. ‘Women Build is a
Habitat for Humanity program that encourages
women to make a difference while having fun
building/renovating homes in their
communities. This build brings together women
from all walks of life to address the housing
crisis facing millions of women and children.’
You can learn more about this powerful
program at
https://habitatomaha.org/volunteer/local-
opportunities/.

Abby and JoAnna also had an opportunity to

attend the dedication of the two newly built homes
and present books that were collected during the
book drive for the children. These children will
now have a collection of books for their personal
library. The smiles on the children’s face as they
opened their packages was priceless.

Volume 41, Issue 1 Page 6