The 2024 conference will be here before you know it and

the list of speakers below is so exciting!!

We can't wait to learn from these amazing experts!

Another 2023 Vendor to Thank!

Somehow we left out one of our amazing vendors in the last newsletter. Thank you to Benchmark for attending the 2023 CCIRA conference!!!

Attention CCIRA Members!

Please join us for our upcoming General Assembly meeting on April 29th at 9:00 a.m. at the Lone Tree Hub, located at 8827 Lone Tree Pkwy, Lone Tree. This meeting will provide a platform to discuss the organization's future, give you a budget update, allow you to hear plans for the 2024 conference, and more! We value your input and encourage all members to attend and share their thoughts on these important matters. As an added bonus, lunch will be provided, so come hungry and ready to collaborate. We hope to see you all there! Please RSVP using the button below.

Funds Available!

CCIRA has recently received a National Honor Society grant making funds available for advances in literacy instruction. The grant money can be used for a range of purposes, including professional development opportunities for educators, literacy events to engage students and their families, as well as purchasing classroom materials that support literacy instruction. These funds provide an excellent opportunity to enhance literacy instruction, and educators are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to promote literacy development among their students. Anyone interested in obtaining more information can contact Lisa Kahn at lisakahnccira@gmail.com.

CCIRA Literacy Conversations

Learn from some of our 2023 conference speakers and more in our library of podcasts! There are episodes from Cornelius Minor, Charles R. Smith, 

Whitney La Rocca, Krista Griffin, Melanie Conklin, Pernille Ripp,

Gordan Korman, and more! Click the button below and listen in!

CCIRA Professional Development Blog

All Things Literacy

The CCIRA blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out the posts on https://ccira.blog/  

Our most recent blog post is by 2024 conference speakers, Kate and Maggie Roberts. It's titled Look After Your Twisted Ankles: Professional Development in Troubled Times. There are also several other great posts including Re-Imagining RtI / MTSS: Putting Students Back at the Center of Instructional Designs by Julie Wright and Mark Bazata and Nawal Qarooni's Breathing Life Into the Syllabus: How Teaching Preservice Educators Hones My Practice.

If you are interested in submitting a guest post to the CCIRA blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates (hollyannabates@gmail.com).

CCIRA is a non-profit organization that works to empower literacy educators. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate support in a variety of ways:

• Donate
• Support a Conference Scholarship Opportunity
• Leverage fundraising programs to earn CCIRA money
• Volunteer with CCIRA

This Month's Featured Fundraiser

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 2000 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
• Our 1300+ members will see your support on our webpage.
• Visitors to the CCIRA website will learn about your organization and its events.
• Our combined support of literacy will impact students across our state and neighboring states.

Meet CCIRA's Executive Committee!

Tanisha Lee

Hello, my name is Tanisha Lee, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the member-at-large board member of CCIRA. I have been on the board for one year, and I am excited to continue the momentum for the 2024 conference. I became involved with CCIRA when I attended CCIRA for the first time in 2019. It only took attending the conference one time to realize that I found my people. From there, I became an active participant on the board of the Jeffco Literacy Association (JLA), the Jeffco local council of CCIRA, and I have loved every minute of it! 

CCIRA has helped me grow as an educator, and I am grateful for the lifelong friendships I have made through this organization. When I am not teaching or serving on the board, I enjoy attending concerts, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends. My favorite thing to do to unwind is to get engrossed in a good book. 

I have been a dedicated teacher for six years, currently teaching 3^rd grade in Jeffco in Morrison, Colorado. I hold a Master's degree in teaching and learning, and I am currently pursuing my second Master's degree in Literacy. I am honored to serve in this role and look forward to contributing to the success of CCIRA in the years to come. 

CCIRA collaboratively encourages, supports, and advances literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all.

All people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life.