Shenandoah Valley Reading Council Long Range Plan
Years: 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009
Goal #1 Actively involve educators from the entire council area.
Objectives: Increase the number of professional and student members. Provide a full slate of enthusiastic and active council chairpersons. Encourage use of committees for all projects. Encourage educator/student participation on committees.
Goal #2 Publicize the activities of the council both internally and to the public
Objectives: Establish an annual calendar. Provide news and research information through council newsletter at least three times per year. Establish relationships throughout local school divisions. Submit articles to valley newspapers. Display with brochures at division-wide school meetings. Participate in the Hall of Councils. Update regularly the local website for SVRC.
Goal #3 Foster partnerships with community/business organizations and schools/colleges/universities.
Objectives: Work with valley public school systems, colleges, universities (Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University, Mary Baldwin College) and business/community groups. Coordinate Young Authors’ Celebrations. Co-sponsor art contest for Valley Voices cover. Co-sponsor publication of Valley Voices, a collection of young authors’ work. Participate in Book ‘Em. Investigate additional opportunities to join with businesses/community groups to foster literacy.
Goal #4 Recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to reading education or literacy programs.
Objectives: Recognize outstanding contributions to literacy efforts by awarding the Celebrate Literacy Award and the Teacher of the Year Award. Nominate members and outstanding community leaders for state award.
Goal #5 Promote literacy projects
Objectives: Continue to increase funding for Books for Babies project for valley hospitals. Support at least two international literacy projects.
Goal #6 Promote best practices in reading education
Objectives: Sponsor a fall mini-conference with presentations on teaching techniques and reading research that will improve the quality of reading instruction. Sponsor winter dinner meeting with a presentation by reading professional. Extend invitations to students as well as paraprofessionals and administrators.
Goal #7 Encourage participation in state/national/international literacy programs
Objectives: Encourage increased participation in the Virginia Readers’ Choice program. Award grants to selected Teachers as Readers groups. Participate as appropriate in VSRA and IRA sponsored projects, such as Teachers as Researchers.
Goal #8 Continue to obtain Honor/Merit Council status
Objective: Collect all information needed for the application process.
Goal #9 Seek funding through corporate sponsorship of literacy events
Objective: Continue to seek funding from VSRA for grant money to be used in community outreach events. Seek funding or gifts-in-kind from businesses.