A New Era by Carol Frow

 A New Era by Carol Frow

Where did summer go? Wasn’t it just the end of last school year? Didn’t stores just start to overflow with brand-new school supplies? Time surely does fly by! By now, most if not all of us, have returned to our classrooms full of new groups of students. Each year brings exciting new ideas and refreshing changes in our classrooms. 

Just as changes occur in our schools, changes also happen in WPCTE. Sadly, at the beginning of June, long-time Executive Director, John Manear, passed away. June also ended the terms of some Executive Board members and committee members, so new officer appointments were determined. Members of the Executive Committee and English Festival Committee also have some additions but are still looking for new active members. If any members are interested in joining these committees, please contact Carol Frow or Amy Bouch who are still leading this group but in different official roles.

The new board members will have a three-year term. Assuming the Executive Director role is Carol Frow, the former president of WPCTE and an ELA teacher at Belle Vernon Area Middle School. WPCTE’s new President is Amy Bouch, an English teacher at Chartiers Valley Middle School and WPCTE’s former Vice President. The wonderful new additions to the board include Vice President Hannah Lewis, a high school English teacher at PA Leadership Charter School; Secretary Denise Chybrzynski, an elementary gifted educator at Knoch; and Treasurer Kathy Roslonski, a long-time WPCTE member and accountant.

Another change in WPCTE involves geographical locations and logistics. Payment for various activities will now be handled by WPCTE’s new treasurer. The English Festival now has a new home at La Roche University. The English Festival Awards Brunch for last year’s English Festival will move to Carol Frow’s school, Belle Vernon Area Middle School.

So many changes have been happening, but thankfully, the world seems to be moving slowly back to a sense of “normal.” Schools seem to be returning to completely in-person instruction, students may be attending field trips again, and in general, the changes made to teaching seem to be returning to some of what had been typical in the past. It’s almost like returning to normal, almost to a sense of home.

That sense of “Homecoming” was the theme of NCTE’s summer gathering. Both Carol and Amy attended the event in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of NCTE’s Affiliate Leadership Meeting. There, they met with leaders from other affiliates to brainstorm and network, attended sessions to benefit instruction and curriculum, and heard authors Celeste Ng, Ruta Sepetys, and Matt de la Peña discuss the importance of story. 

Attending conferences leave us refreshed and invigorated. Please consider attending our state affiliate’s conference, PCTELA’s Cultivate on October 21-22 in Cranberry, and NCTE’s annual conference, ¡Sueños! Pursuing the Light! in Anaheim, California from November 17-20.

New beginnings are so exciting! Changes bring new possibilities, refreshed enthusiasm, and innovative ideas. WPCTE strives to be a professional home to all of our members. Let this year be the year that you connect with other educators more than ever!