This year MCELA has new leadership. Carrie Barbosa–who generously served as MCELA president these past two years leading our abrupt shift from an in-person conference to online webinars, book studies, and author talks–has moved to Portugal. We are so thankful for all that she did to support literacy in Maine during that time.

Patti Forster, English teacher at Camden Hills Regional High School, will be taking the lead as the new MCELA president, as we transition back to the in-person conference.
Yes! Our conference is back! March 17, 2023 at the Westin in Portland. Save the date! Get your PD funding and approval early. Conference details on Events and Programs tab.

Todd McKinley, instructional coach and middle school ELA teacher at heart, will be our vice president.
Bre Allard, Literacy Coach at Lewiston Middle School, is stepping up as our secretary.

Sheila Bennett, English teacher at John Bapst Memorial High School, is returning as our Treasurer.
We also have a very experienced and committed Executive Board to help guide us and support our important work to improve the teaching of literacy across the state (learn more about our Executive Board on the MCELA Leadership Tab).
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2022-23 MCELA Goals:

• Advocate for intellectual freedom
• Increase visibility for the organization and board diversity
• Be a connection for learning and growing in the teaching of literacy through our in-person conference, online offerings, social media, monthly email newsletter, and Northwords

​Maine Council for English Language Arts Honored with 2021 Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award from National Council of Teachers of English
Award honors exemplary Affiliate Journals

Champaign, Illinois—The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has selected the Maine Council
for English Language Arts (MCELA), as a 2021 Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award honoree.
Northwords, co-edited by Dan Murphy and Patti Forster, and published by the Maine Council for English
Language Arts (MCELA), has been named a recipient of the 2021 Affiliate Journal of Excellence Program
Award, given by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). 
 
Established in 1995, this award honors outstanding affiliate journals and their editors who demonstrate
excellence in these publications. The winning affiliate journal must be a magazine-type
publication—print or online—and provide members with scholarly articles on issues and topics related
to English language arts teaching. The journals are judged on content, organization, and scholarly
exploration, appeal to many different groups within the affiliate, coverage of important issues in English
language arts education, and inclusion of other types of writing (e.g., poetry, affiliate news, book
reviews).
 
The Affiliate Journal of Excellence Award winners will be announced at the 2021 NCTE Annual
Convention, during the Affiliate Event on Sunday, November 21.  
 
About NCTE
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of
English and the language arts at all levels of education. For more than 100 years, NCTE has worked with
its members to offer journals, publications, and resources; to further the voice and expertise of
educators as advocates for their students at the local and federal levels; and to share lesson ideas,
research, and teaching strategies through its Annual Convention and other professional learning events.