Children's Choices Trainee/Team Leader Application for 2013-2015

Children's Choices, an International Reading Association and Children's Book Council joint committee needs the following information to select new Team Leaders. We consider numerous factors, such as geographical representation; number of students; type of population; leadership and professional involvement; attendance at IRA's Annual Convention; interest and support of selected schools; and reason for applying.

* Name

* Home Street Address

Home Address Line 2

* City

* State

* Zip Code

Home Telephone Number

Office Telephone Number

* E-mail address

* Confirm e-mail address

* IRA Membership Number

* Job Title

* Professional Affiliation

This year we are looking for team leaders in the following areas of the United States, which involves a committment to a two-year term as a trainee/team leader. Please check the area you would like to represent.

2013-2015

Area 2: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Area 3: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas

Teams (young readers) consist of 2,500 children, no more, no less; 1,000 are readers in grades K-2; 750 are readers in grades 3-4; 750 are readers in grades 5-6. This balance is fixed so that each team has the same number of participants at each reading level. The figures are firm. Ideally, readers should be heterogeneous, representing a variety of communities and socioeconomic populations. Please provide a list of the schools where you plan to place the books. Please include the following information: Name of school, number of students, grade levels, socioeconomic status, and rural/urban/suburban. This is an important consideration in selecting Team Leaders.

List of schools.

There must be a lot of cooperation, support, and enthusiasm for Children's Choices from at least three sources other than team leaders. Please provide letters from the administrators of participating schools, school districts, or the appropriate departments (if a university is involved) who wholeheartedly support this project.

Letters

Additional Information

Teams have repeatedly advised us that the activity can break down in the classroom if teachers are not enthusiastic supporters.

Are you sure that classroom teachers and, when applicable, building-level librarians would be active members of your team?

Yes

Additional comments:

There is a great deal of work involved in this activity, e.g., keeping records of receipt of books, circulation of books, transporting books from school to school, collecting and tabulating votes, etc.

Do you have sufficient clerical staff or parent volunteers to assist your team with this work?

Yes

Additional comments:

All teams must supply their own supplies, e.g., containers for book circulation, and prepare materials for readers, e.g., ballots. These materials are essential to the team’s success and the cost is minimal.

Do you have, or will you be able to secure, funds for this purpose?

Yes

Additional comments:

As a Team Leader, you or someone in a leadership role on your team would be asked to participate in the following activities at IRA’s annual convention; Team Leader Orientation Session (preceding the beginning of your term, during and after completion of your term); an one-hour Children's Choices session; and the Choices booth on the exhibit floor.

This two-hour session reviews the responsibilities of Team Leaders and the logistics of the project and provides essential information from retiring and continuing Team Leaders.

* Can you make this commitment?

Yes

* I understand and agree that I can not be involved in any other IRA project dealing with book selection while serving on the Children's Choices Committee.

Agree

* Indicates Response Required