Barbara J. Walker to Become President of International Reading Association

Barbara J. Walker, a reading education professor at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, is vice president of the International Reading Association and will become president in May 2008. Walker, who has been actively involved in IRA for more that 25 years, served on IRA’s Board of Directors from 1994–1997. She also served on a number of IRA committees and commissions and on the board of directors for state reading associations in both Oklahoma and Montana. From 2003–2005, Walker wrote the Struggling Readers column for The Reading Teacher.

Barbara J. Walker received her EdD in reading education and BS and MA in elementary education at Oklahoma State University. Walker began her career as a reading specialist at the elementary level, taught reading improvement at a junior college, and coordinated the instructional program for physically challenged children in Bolivia. She is author and coauthorof numerous books and chapters, including Diagnostic Teaching of Reading (5th ed.), Techniques for Reading Assessment and Instruction, Supporting Struggling Readers (2nd ed.), What Research Says to the Teacher: Remedial Reading, the Reading Team series, Collaboration for Diverse Learners, Handbook of Literacy and Technology, and Tutoring Programs for Struggling Readers. Her coauthored articles have appeared in The Reading Teacher, Elementary School Journal, and Journal of Teacher Education.

Statement of philosophy

“IRA is devoted to improving literacy by empowering individuals at all levels—preschool through higher education—and in various situations—school, home, and community—to become more knowledgeable, more effective, and more committed in promoting literacy. I will contribute to this broad goal by improving IRA’s capacity and commitment to Develop and deliver effective professional development—explore theory, research, and practice in our publications and programs.

• Promote a worldwide literacy community—advocate literacy rights for all, support complex cultural interactions, and honor multiple perspectives.
• Sustain and extend high-quality literacy instruction—foster creative classrooms, respect language diversity, coach struggling readers, and focus on improvement in high poverty settings
• Although it seems like an ‘impossible dream’—working together, we can make a difference.”

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Last Updated Monday, September 18, 2006 4:28 PM