Message from National TYCA

Our Students Need You. We Need You. Join Us. 

Dear Colleagues, 

I am quite aware, as I reflect on my twenty-five years of teaching at an open-enrollment community college, that I serve my students best when I am in relationship with creative, energetic, thoughtful, intelligent colleagues. In addition to those I am lucky enough to teach with at St. Louis Community College, it is my peer professionals throughout the Midwest who repeatedly encourage me to continue to learn, reflect, and laugh. 

Now, in my position as the NCTE Representative for TYCA Midwest, I am reminded that it’s not just community college professors, and it’s not just those of us in the Midwest, but in fact, we are surrounded nationally by excellent English language and literacy instructors. At the last NCTE convention, it was high school counselors who taught me strategies for recognizing the trauma our students bring into our classrooms. It was grade school librarians who reminded me of all ways we still teach young people to read and love language. And, it was middle school Language Arts teachers who helped me remember that despite the prevailing myths, our students can and do still need literature to help them understand their lives. 

If you’re feeling adrift or alone in your teaching, if you are discouraged or burnt, I encourage you to join our community of vibrant, intelligent and dedicated colleagues at our next conventions. 

TYCA-Midwest: Omaha, October 8-10, 2026

NCTE: Philadelphia, November 19-16, 2026

Peace, 

Rich