Reflections on Literacy
NC Reading Association Newsletter | Vol. 4, Issue 1
A Message From Our 2026-2027 President, Hiller Spires
Greetings!
Our Summer Leadership Institute on July 17 reminded me why I am optimistic about the future of literacy in North Carolina. Leaders from across the state gathered to plan future events, and to strengthen a shared commitment to readers, writers, teachers, and communities. The conversations were thoughtful, the ideas were bold, and the collective energy reaffirmed that the work of literacy has never been more important. I enjoyed reading the book titles your colleagues included in the Books That Have Shaped Us activity. Click https://shorturl.at/OSRFh to read some of the books that have inspired your colleagues through the years.
That momentum now carries us toward our 56th Annual NCRA Conference, March 21–23, 2027, in Winston-Salem. Our theme, Literacy for a Reimagined World: Innovation and Humanity, reflects both the opportunities and responsibilities of this moment. As artificial intelligence, new technologies, and changing ways of communicating reshape our world, literacy remains our greatest tool for helping learners think critically, create meaning, solve problems, and connect with one another with empathy and purpose. We’re excited about two keynote speakers that we have secured so far. Stay tuned for more information, including the Call for Proposals and Registration.
This vision of Literacy for a Reimagined World also comes alive through our Young Authors Project. Every story a child writes is an act of imagination and hope. By encouraging students to create, reflect, and share their voices, we are investing in the next generation of readers, writers, innovators, and compassionate citizens. Matthew Lococo, who is chairing the YA Project Committee, will send YA information to the local councils by August 28, 2026. We are considering this a pilot year in which we combine our regular writing evaluation process with the use of an artificial intelligence tool. This is an opportunity for NCRA to model how to be a learning organization to assess the potential benefits and challenges of using new technologies as part of our YA assessment process. Many thanks to the YA committee for being forward thinking and thoughtful about this process.
As we begin a new school year, thank you for the countless ways you lead in your classrooms, schools, universities, and communities. Together, we are responding to a changing world as well as helping to shape it. I am grateful for your partnership and excited for all that lies ahead.
Together, let's reimagine what's possible through literacy.
With gratitude,
Hiller A. Spires
NCRA President, 2026-2027
Young Authors Information 2026-2027
Thanks to all who helped us celebrate our state Young Authors winners in March! We are excited to share our 2026-2027 YA theme: Literacy for a Reimagined World: Innovation and Humanity.
Committee Chair Matthew Lococo will be sharing more details by August 28th, so stay tuned!
Questions?
Contact Information for State Young Authors & Illustrators Committee
Matthew Lococo, Greene County Schools
Elizabeth Landry, Ed.D. UNC Pembroke
Andy Cason, Parent Advocate
Savannah Bowman, Teacher, Hillside High School
NCRA Awards Information 2026-2027
Click the image to the right to view the awards information presentation. Please reach out to Shane Fletcher with additional questions. We will discuss the guidelines and deadlines further at our Summer Leadership Institute. We hope you can join us!
How to Read a Book
By: Monica Wood
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: May 7, 2024
Pages: 280
Audio: 10 hours, 18 minutes
Reviewer: Lisa Llewellyn McIntosh
This book took me on a journey to a prison, a bookstore and a laboratory in
Portland, Maine. Monica Wood masterfully brings together 3 unlikely people who
connect in surprising and life-changing ways.
This book made me laugh, cry and is a reminder of the importance of second
chances, how the power of books can change lives, and that kindness goes a long way. It is a “must” read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
By: Ben Reeves
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 7/07/2026
Pages: 256
Audio: 7 hours, 37 minutes
Reviewer: Emily Golightly
I don't know how to put into words the feelings I'm grappling with after reading this book. Imagine that the angel of death lives across the hall, and his name is Travis, and he kind of feels like a regular guy. He's full of compassion, but never tries to change the outcomes of peoples' fate, even though he has what I would consider an impossibly hard job. This book is quirky, original, touching, and memorable. For anyone who has experienced loss, this book will sit with you deeply. It makes me want to live life to the fullest and also appreciate the small moments. What a beautiful, heartrending book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wild Mountain Ivy
By: Shannon Hitchcock
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Published: 3/03/2026
Pages: 272
Audio: N/A
Reviewer: Emily Golightly
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the connections made between modern challenges (long COVID) and historical challenges (tuberculosis). It was neat how it was a bit of a ghost story, a bit of historical fiction, and a great family story about the challenges this family weathers together. Also, for North Carolinians or people who just love and appreciate the Asheville area, there are so many little Easter eggs and nods to this beautiful area. Thanks, Shannon, for lovingly crafting a story that will appeal to generations of readers.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hiller Spires, President
Hi, I'm Hiller Spires, President for NCRA and member of the Raleigh-Wake Reading Council. I am Executive Director and Professor Emerita at North Carolina State University, where I was the founding director for the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and a literacy professor for 36 years. Before coming to NC, I was a high school English teacher and an academic counselor at the University of South Carolina. During my time at NC State's College of Education, I worked extensively with teachers as I helped direct the New Literacies and Global Learning master's degree, which included licensure in K-12 Reading. I also conducted research on digital, disciplinary and global literacies with diverse learners; and Project-Based Inquiry (PBI) Global using the UNC Sustainable Development Goals. My most recent book was co-edited with Dr. Shea Kerkhoff and is titled Critical Perspectives in Global Literacies: Bridging Research and Practice (published by Routledge in 2023). I also recently created Margie’s Books, which provides books to underserved educational communities.
My husband, Tom Lee, and I enjoy traveling and spending time with our amazing son, Gabriel Lee, who is 25 years old. I also enjoy creating non-representational paintings using acrylics and mixed media. I am very excited to work with everyone to support literacy across the great state of NC.
Email: haspires@ncsu.edu
Facebook: Hiller Spires
Twitter/X: @haspires
Shane Fletcher, President-Elect
Hi! I'm Shane, the President-Elect of NCRA and Area Director for the Southeast Region, and I have been married for 36 years to Tonnye Williams Fletcher. I've been teaching for twenty-three years, and I am currently at Central Middle School in Whiteville, NC (7th Grade ELA). I have my PhD in Curriculum & Instruction -Literacy from NC State and my MAEd - Reading Specialist from UNCP. We live/work on Country Corners Farm in Chadbourn, NC (Home of NC’s only Sugarcane Maze!). We have 2 cats (Sparkles and Dusty) and 1 Turtle (Blinky). I have been an NCRA Area Director for 14 years. I am also the current Vice President of Columbus Council of NCRA
Email: mfletcher@whiteville.k12.nc.us
Twitter: @docfletch2016
Facebook: Shane Fletcher
Instagram: @shaeginarrowmaker
Erin K. West, Vice President
With experience spanning early childhood, elementary, secondary, and higher education, I bring a practice-grounded perspective to literacy education and leadership. My work focuses on literacy development, teacher empowerment, early childhood education, and relational approaches to teaching and learning.
I am the editor of Former Educators’ Roles in Supporting Student Growth and Learning (IGI Global, 2025) and have authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed publications. My research appears in Workplace: A Journal for Academic Labor and the International Journal of Self-Directed Learning. I have presented at professional conferences, including the North Carolina Reading Association, with a focus on literacy and teacher learning.
In addition to my scholarly work, I direct the WEUMC Summer Reading Program, a community-based initiative that supports children’s reading engagement, confidence, and growth. In every setting, I am committed to nurturing curiosity, empowering educators, and advocating for rich, inclusive literacy opportunities for every child.
Email: erinkate21@gmail.com
Heidi Perez, Past President
Email: heidi_perez@dpsnc.net
Amanda McCall, Director of Membership
My name is Amanda McCall and I am going into my 21st year in education. I am the Membership Director for NCRA. This is my first leadership role for NCRA and I am still learning about it all the time. Currently, I am a Media Coordinator at Morehead City Primary School in Carteret County, NC. In the past, however, I have been a second grade, third grade, and Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) teacher. This past year, I have spent a lot of time converting an old school bus to a book mobile- Title Wave. This has been a passion project of mine and just had its maiden voyage in June of 2023.
I am a mother of two- a college freshman at NC State and a high school sophomore, so we stay busy! I have been married for 20 years to my husband, Rick. I love traveling and would do so much more of it if I had the money. One of the ways I travel for lower costs is by signing on with teacher groups to learn and travel at the same time. I try to stay active and am a runner. While not a competitive runner, I enjoy doing team relays such as the "Blue Ridge Relay" in September with a group of fellow runner friends who are also gluttons for punishment. I play beach volleyball during the summer. I enjoy reading, going to concerts and plays, and spending time with family and friends when I can!
Facebook: Amanda Ruffin McCall
Email: amanda.mccall@carteretk12.org
Twitter: @amccalleducates
Website: Coming soon!
Shannon Lawrence, Secretary
Andrew Walker, Treasurer
Email: treasurerncrainc@gmail.com; anw6494@gmail.com
Matthew Lococo, Young Authors Project Chair
HI! I am Matthew Lococo and am a 6th-12th grade Instructional Coach for Greene County Schools in Snow Hill, NC where I serve as the Literacy Coordinator for Secondary grades. 2026 marks my 21st year in education, I have been a Middle School and High School Teacher, Principal, Assistant Principal, and a Director for a Charter School. I graduated from Robert Morris University with a BA in Social Science in 2004 and a MS in Instructional Leadership in 2005. I completed my K-12 Principal's License at ECU in 2009. I completed my Educational Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Gardner-Webb University in 2019 and most recently completed my Masters in History at UNCW in 2025. I became a certified ISTE Certified Teacher in 2025. In the summer of 2026, I began my Doctoral Journey at East Carolina University (Go Pirates!) .
I have served on the YA Committee the past 2 years and am excited to continue in a leadership role with NCRA. In addition to my role in NCRA, I had the privilege of participating in the GO Global NC Teacher Leader trip to Botswana and Zambia in 2026. When I am not at school, I am teaching adult ESL Learners as an Adjunct Teacher at Lenoir Community College, and teaching American History at Craven Community College.
My most important title is "Dad and Husband". I am the proud father of 4 children (Sara, 18, Stephen, 17, Carlee, 12, and Caitlyn, 11). I have been married to my amazing wife Susan for 19 years. I am a proud member of Tanglewood Church of God where I serve actively as a small group leader, sing in the choir and lead the theatre lighting ministry. I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA (Go Steelers!) but have called Eastern North Carolina home for the past 20 years.
Janice Jett, Parliamentarian
Janice Jett is celebrating 30 years in education this year with a fond allegiance to alma maters NC State, UNCG, East Carolina University, and UNC-Charlotte. She currently serves in Lee County as an AIG and Advanced Education Specialist. When not deep diving into all things teaching and learning, she enjoys traveling, fantasizing about writing a book, and spending time with her husband, two young adult children, and a beloved menagerie of rescue cats.
Email: jrjett@hotmail.com, janicejett@lee.k12.nc.us
Facebook: facebook.com/janice.jett
Instagram: instagram.com/jrjett
Jean House, Executive Assistant
I've been involved in the NC Reading Association since the mid 1980s, first with the Raleigh/Wake Council, and then as an officer in the state association. I served as NCRA president from 2006-07 and have been working as the Executive Assistant since 2007. In that role, I am responsible for planning the yearly conference. I spend my spare time reading, gardening, watching my grandsons' baseball games, and traveling.
Emily Golightly, Digital Media Director
I received my bachelor's degree from East Carolina University in Elementary Education, and I also have my reading certification in grades K-12 and my TESL certification in grades K-12. I completed my master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language through UNCW, and obtained a second master's degree in Media and Library Sciences (MLS) through Appalachian State University. As a school librarian, I also serve on the board of our state's librarian organization, NCSLMA, as the parliamentarian. I was honored to be selected as the 2024-2025 NC School Librarian of the Year. This is my 23rd year in education. I'm so excited to be a part of NCRA, and I look forward to working with each of you to promote literacy across the state!
Email: ncradigitalmedia@gmail.com; ncreadingwebmaster@gmail.com
Website: bit.ly/golightlyreads
Facebook: facebook.com/emilyg143
Twitter: @EmilyGolightly3
Area 1: Mountains--Tonya Bailey
Hi! I'm Tonya Bailey, and I am the Area Director for the Mountains Region, as well as the Blue Ridge Reading Council Past President. I am a retired teacher as of 2022, with 31 years of experience. I have been married for 33 years to my husband, Tony, and we have a wonderful daughter, Allison, who is 20 years old.
We have three pets: am American Bulldog, a Netherland Dwarf bunny, and a Leopard Gecko. My hobbies are reading and shopping. My new business after retirement is Bailey's Bag Boutique on Facebook. I have also been a Mary Kay Consultant for 25 years.
Email: tbailey@burke.k12.nc.us
Area 2: Piedmont West--Barb Falkenbury
Hello! I'm Barbara and I am originally from Buffalo- GO Bills! I have an AAS in Criminal Justice, BS in Elementary Education and Social Studies and a MS in Reading. I taught for 40 years in 15 different schools in New York, Germany, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. I have taught everything from first grade through high school, and 27 of those years were spent as a reading specialist.
I married an Army officer 44 years ago in Baumholder, Germany. I have a son, a daughter and three darling granddaughters. We moved to Concord, NC in 1999 when my husband retired from the Army. I was the reading specialist at Cannon School and left in 2020 moving to Charleston, SC. I currently serve on the boards of the Riverstone Charter High School and the Zucker School of Education at The Citadel. In Charleston. I also work in the education department at Patriots Point Maritime Museum.
I have been a member of NCRA and GCRA since 1999, and I've been membership
chair, treasurer, president and YA chair for GCRA. I continue to serve on the GCRA
board. I have been an Area Director three separate times (total of 12 years) and was the NCRA State Coordinator for 6 years. My hobbies are reading, sewing, crafting, scrapbooking and reading to my granddaughters about princesses and dragons.
Email: barbgcra@gmail.com
Facebook: Barbara Falkenbury
Instagram: @barb_book_reader
Area 3: Piedmont Central--Graziela Scalabrin
I am a passionate and dedicated K–12 educator with over 8 years of experience and a proven track record of driving student success. My work has spanned classrooms and districts across North and South America, and I am currently serving as the District English Department Coordinator for my school district. Fluent in multiple languages and highly tech-savvy, I bring strong communication skills and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion in education. Known for my energetic, collaborative approach, I strive to create supportive, student-centered learning environments where all learners can thrive. Integrity, empathy, and innovation are at the heart of everything I do.
Email: grazielascalabrin@gmail.com
Area 4: Southeast--Shane Fletcher (interim)
This position is vacant. If you're interested in stepping into a leadership position at the state level and live in the Southeast region, please reach out to Shane Fletcher (who's serving in an interim capacity) to get more information! We would love to have you join us!
Email: mfletcher@whiteville.k12.nc.us
Twitter: @docfletch2016
Facebook: Shane Fletcher
Instagram: @shaeginarrowmaker
Area 5: Coast--Vicki Abbott-Stain
Hi! My name is Vicki Abbott-Stain. I am the current NCRA Area Director for the Coastal Region and have held this position for the past five years. I retired from Craven County Schools in 2017 after thirty one years as an elementary teacher. I have taught Kindergarten through Fourth grade and several years as a Title 1 Reading teacher. Since retirement, I have been a full-time substitute teacher in Craven County.
I am one of the original charter members of Twin Rivers Reading Council founded in 1987. I am also a past president of the Council and have held many positions on the board. I have been the chairman for Reading Fun Day at the mall project for the past ten years.
I look forward to working with you all this year. You may contact me at (252)-349-4510 or email me at poohbear13@suddenlink.net.