Literacy professor serves as Co-Editor of National Journal Voices from the Middle

Friday, August 26, 2016

Oklahoma State University College of Education faculty member Shelbie Witte, Ph.D., is serving as co-editor of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) publication Voices from the Middle. The peer-reviewed journal, for teachers and by teachers, offers middle level teachers innovative and practical ideas for classroom use that are rooted in current research.

In addition to the print publication, Witte and co-editor Sara Kajder of the University of Georgia, have recently launched a podcast and are using Twitter and Facebook to further disseminate information to teachers across the United States.

Witte says they have developed the new strategies to bring vibrancy to the traditionally print-oriented journal. The podcast is a radio talk show format highlighting the authors and teachers who have written for particular issues in the journal.  

Witte’s first print issue as co-editor launches in September. The topic of the first podcast, available now, is “Advocacy” and features Kylene Beers, past president of NCTE and well-known teacher educator. Upcoming podcasts will include “What's Next in Reading Instruction” as well as “Culturally Relevant Pedagogy”.  Future podcasts will feature middle level ELA teachers from across the United States, practitioner-leaders, young adult and middle grades authors and other surprise guests.

Witte is an associate professor in secondary literacy and serves as the Kim and Chuck Watson Endowed Chair in Education in the College of Education’s School of Teaching & Curriculum Leadership at Oklahoma State University.