Dear FLCA Members,

First and foremost a happy New Year’s to everyone.  As the new FLCA President, I want to take a moment to welcome everyone and tell you a little bit about myself. I am currently the director of the Morgridge International Reading Center at the University of Central Florida and the UCF Book Festival.  I received my Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Barry College (now Barry University) in Miami; my Master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale; and my Doctorate in education from the UCF with an emphasis on adolescent literacy acquisition and instruction. I worked for 25 years with Orange County Public Schools before taking a job at the University of Central Florida in 2003.  While working with Orange County Public Schools, I was a classroom teacher, a Reading Recovery teacher, a district resource teacher, a literacy coach, a trainer of literacy coaches, and past president of the Orange County Reading Council.  I am fluent in English and Spanish and have taught in both languages.

The FLCA Executive Board is currently in the process of planning and organizing the 2012 FLCA day-long symposium scheduled to take place May 21st at UCF; free to FLCA members and $20 to non-members.  As in past symposiums, topics and presentations will be relevant and informational to support you in the evolving roles of literacy coaches in Florida.  Literacy coaches and administrators that have attended the FLCA symposium always raved about the quality of the presentations and the relevancy of the information shared to improve literacy acquisition and instruction in Florida.  During this year’s symposium, we’re looking at expanding our definition of literacy coaching to encompass the idea of disciplinary literacy coaching with a focus on working with adult learners.  Please plan on attending and mark your calendars for May 21st and invite colleagues to attend with you.

In the meantime, please bear with us as the FLCA Executive Board works diligently to support you and update the FLCA website with current information and research with the support of our colleagues in the Florida Reading Association and Just Read, Florida! Working together with the Florida Reading Association and the Just Read, Florida! office promises to make 2012 an exciting and information-rich year for literacy coaches in Florida to improve literacy acquisition and instruction for everyone.

To start 2012, FLCA has composed a Position Paper on the role of the literacy coach found on the website under “Coaches Toolbox”.  I encourage all literacy coaches to print the position paper to share with colleagues, mentor-teachers, and administrators.  The first step of any effective coach is to develop a common understanding/language.  Our hope is that the Position Paper will serve you as a resource in developing that common understanding/language on the role of the literacy coach.

As we move forward into another year, we begin with many new FLCA Executive Board Members.  Please view all the new board members under “contact us”.

Best for 2012,
Enrique A. Puig, FLCA President (2011-2012)