Iowa Reading Association offers many awards and scholarships to deserving individuals throughout Iowa. The following awards and scholarships are available: Service Award, Celebrate Literacy, Iowa Service, Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year, Iowa Reading Administrator of the Year, and Scholarship Winners.
2021-22 Award Application Criteria & Forms
Iowa Reading Association Service Award
recipient: Marlene Reece
The Iowa Service Award may be given for unusual and distinguished service to the Iowa Reading Association. The criteria is admirable service to the Iowa Reading Association in some specific capacity or capacities, requiring special skills, knowledge, and creative effort (eg., as editor, TV producer, founder, etc. on local, state/provincial , national and international levers). Nominee may be a teacher or a school administrator. The results must make a significant impact on the growth of the Iowa Reading Association, on the dissemination of research findings, on the increase of legislation favoring good reading programs or on some other area within the broad field of reading.
- 2017-2018 - Heidi Stangl
- 2016-2017 - Nancy Wright
- 2014-2015 - Clark Goltz
- 2013-2014 - Debra Wake
- 2012-2013 - Mary Pieper
- 2010-2011 - Glenadean Betterton
- 2009-2010 - Karla Bronzynski
- 2009 - Carol Walthart
- 2008 - Janet Adams
- 2007 - Deb Mortensen
- 2006 - Rick Bartosh
- 2005 - Joy Reinert
- 2004 - Mary Ann Stuart
- 2003 - Nancy White
- 2002 - Leslie Titler
- 1999 - Yvonne Wilson
- 1997 - Oline Stigers
- 1996 - George Wm. Holland
- 1990 - Coleen McClannahan
- 1988 - Juanita Reckoff
Iowa Service Award 2019-2020 goes to Marlene Reece!
Iowa Reading Administrator of the Year
Administrator of the Year recipient, Brian Sammons
Recipient: Brian Sammons
Iowa Reading Administrator of the Year Award may be given to professionals other than those teachers of reading who have demonstrated their interest, concern and leadership in promoting reading within their domain.
- 2018-2019 - Brian Sammons
- 2017-2018 - Josh Bower
- 2015-2016 - Carol Duehr
- 2014-2015 - Dr. Christopher Herrick
- 2013-2014 - Dirk Borgman
- 2012-2013 - Kevin Farmer
- 2011-2012 - Beverly Mach
- 2010-2011 - Tom Kerr
- 2009-2010 - Lisa Wiese
- 2009 - Barbara Kady
- 2008 - Dr. Ann Withrow
- 2007 - Don Ortman
- 2006 - Lynn Kilpatrick
- 2005 - Deborah Snider
- 2004 - Larry Hicok
- 2003 - Nancy Foust
- 2002 - Dr. Merilee Rosberg
- 2001 - Robert Kirschbaum
- 2000 - Gene Grell
- 1999 - Dr. Carolyn Heitz and Clark W. Goltz
- 1997 - Vicky M. Smith
- 1996 - Dr. Betty Wells Brown
- 1991 - Jack Duffy and Dale McKown
- 1990 - H. James Jackson
- 1988 - Bruce Bufe
- 1986 - Theron Kirkpatrick
- 1985 - David Fairweather
- 1983 - Maxine Robinson
Celebrate Literacy Award
Recipient: Laurinda Brimeyer
Celebrate Literacy is a project sponsored by the International Reading Association and the Iowa Reading Association. The purpose of this project is to recognize an individual, agency, or institution that has made significant contributions to literacy. This celebration of literacy will familiarize the public with literacy activities actually carried out in local communities and will call attention to work being done by schools in the promotion of literacy as a “universal concern.”
- 2018-2019 - Laurinda Brimeyer
- 2017-2018 - Rachel Galvin
- 2016-2017 - Dawn Miller
- 2015-2016 - Sue Winter
- 2014-2015 - Margo Kitzrow
- 2013-2014 - Marlys Lien
- 2012-2013 - Pastor Paul Stone
- 2011-2012 - Judy Afdahl
- 2010-2011 - Bette Jolliffe
- 2009-2010 - Ellen Harbaugh
- 2009 - Nora Birt
- 2008 - Laura Turnquist
- 2007 - Glenda Mulder
- 2006 - Todd Lettow
- 2005 - Mary Pieper
- 2004 - Alpha Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma
- 2003 - Sharron McElmeel
- 2002 - Mary Jo Ruppert
- 2001 - Northwest Iowa Foster Grandparent Program
- 2000 - Carrie Bremer
- 1999 - Deb Dunkhase
- 1998 - Jack Kennedy
- 1996 - Carine Schroeder
Celebrate Literacy 2019 recipient, Laurinda Brimeyer
Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year
2019 Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year recipient, Lauriel Weekly
Recipient: Lauriel Weekly
The Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year must be members of the local, state and national associations of the International Reading Association. Criteria involves teaching of children , this should be direct teaching of reading, involvement in the International reading Association and professional growth in the teaching profession.
- 2018-2019 - Lauriel Weekly
- 2017-2018 - Michelle Pearson
- 2015-2016 - Wendy Matson
- 2014-2015 - Tony Pieper
- 2013-2014 - Karla Bronzynski
- 2012-2013 - Becky Pashek
- 2011-2012 - Patty Gillespie
- 2010-2011 - Marlene Reece
- 2009-2010 - Nancy Wright
- 2009 - Suzanne Kurth
- 2008 - Margo Sievers
- 2007 - Lois Van Houweling
- 2006 - Candace Booth
- 2005 - Deb Saylor
- 2004 - Loretta Ramsey
- 2003 - Leann Van Dyke
- 2002 - Marge Blake
- 2001 - Nancy Port
- 2000 - Martha Wells
- 1999 - Deborah Mortensen
- 1998 - Marcia Adams
- 1997 - Kay Sullivan
- 1996 - Lori Vicker
- 1987 - Sharron McElmeel
- 1986 - Marge Pellersels
- 1985 - Judy Combs
- 1984 - Maribelle Betterton
- 1983 - Bonnie Mansfield
- 1982 - Dottie Heering
- 1981 - Judith Smith
- 1980 - Harret Hanke
- 1979 - Grace Leinen
- 1978 - Beth McFarland
- 1974 - Waive Shields
ILA Honor Councils
Recipients: READ, Hardy, and Eastern Iowa Councils
READ, Hardy, and Eastern Iowa Councils (1 year, 33 years, 19 years respectively)
Iowa Reading Association Technology and Literacy Grant
2018-2019 Technology & Literacy Grant recipient, Wendy Matson
2018-2019 Technology & Literacy Grant recipient, Kari Straube
Recipients: Wendy Matson & Kari Straube
Need some money to help infuse technology skills, apps, programs… into your literacy study? Look no further than the Iowa Reading Association Technology and Literacy grant. Those that apply will utilize technology in their teaching of literacy skills. Some suggestions might be the use of flip or digital cameras, creating interactive white board lessons, creating a blog or webpage, using software to create student books, use of Power Point or Wordle, money for app purchases. Be creative!
Please fill out the online application by September 30, 2019, so funds can be awarded either after the October Board meeting. Questions? Contact Renee Thomas, project chair, renee.thomas@vanburencsdonline.org.
"Grow a Local Council" Grant
Contact: Nancy Wright - RITE729@msn.com
Outgoing Directors
Outgoing Regional Director: Marlene Reece
Marlene Reece was the Central Regional Director.
