A diverse group of educators has been assembled by the Indiana Professional Standards Board (IPSB) to serve on a Reading Advisory Committee to draft the standards for two reading licenses: a reading teacher and a reading specialist.  The committee has been meeting monthly since August, writing the licensing standards using a variety of sources.  The group includes regular classroom teachers from the primary grades to high school reading and language arts teachers, school and district administrators, and representatives from higher education and the Indiana Department of Education.

            The new reading teacher license is unique because it is rarely found in other states.  The IPSB recognized the need in Indiana for a teacher with a concentration in reading in order to improve the reading abilities of Indiana students.  Indiana is a pioneer in this area. 

            The reading specialist licensing will require a master’s degree.  Persons seeking this degree will have to have a higher level of knowledge about reading, since there will be some administrative and diagnostic responsibilities.

             It is anticipated that both licenses will be available for review and comments in the spring of 2003.

             Members of the Reading Advisory Committee are Mary Andis, I-READ Director, Center for School Improvement & Performance, Indiana Department of Education; Laura DeMasie, reading teacher, South Wayne Junior High School; Natalie J. Hatton, Title I/Reading Recovery teacher, Baxter Elementary School, Richmond Schools; Dr. Lindan B. Hill, director of education, Manchester College; Dr. Sandra Kelley, a IPSB member and English teacher from Terre Haute; Patricia Lane, fifth grade teacher, Trader’s Point Christian Academy; Kathy Lewis, NBCT, Kindergarten teacher/literacy coordinator, East Noble Schools; Donna Perry, teacher, special education and language arts (7-12), South Ripley Junior/Senior High School; Dr. Thomas Pickering, dean, School of Education and Human Services, University of Southern Indiana; Molly Seward, NBCT, second grade teacher, Snacks Crossing Elementary School, Pike Township; Dr. Sally Simpson, associate professor of education, Tri-State University; Dr. Myrtle Wilson, deputy superintendent from South Bend; Terrill Brown, committee cochairman, teacher, Grades 1-2 Loop, South Whitley Elementary School; and Dennis Zelenke, committee cochairman, English/reading teacher, Hammond Morton High School.