For my first ALSC Blog post as the new president of our organization, I am pleased to acknowledge the hard work of Immediate Past President Amy Koester. She is truly an exceptional, competent, smart, and generous leader, and I have learned so much this past year serving alongside her as vice president. Amy played a pivotal role in the creation of the 2023–2024 work plan for process committees, shared many templates with me, and created detailed instructions about how to do the work of presidency. Her efforts were supportive of me and, more importantly, of the overall health and well-being of ALSC. She worked diligently—as did many others—on what I believe is an excellent new strategic plan (Introducing the 2023-2026 ALSC Strategic Plan!).
Literacy as one of our key pillars is what led me to become an ALSC member many years ago as a new assistant professor of literacy. As I step into my new role as president of ALSC, I am guided by the leadership that Amy demonstrated during her term. I hope to be a role model for ALSC Vice President/President-Elect Robert Bittner in the same way Amy was for me. If you have not yet had a chance to do so, please email her (akoesteralsc@gmail.com) or tell her the next time you see her at an ALSC event, “Thank you, Amy!”
Jonda C. McNair
Charlotte S. Huck Endowed Professor of Children’s Literature, The Ohio State University
2023–2024 ALSC President
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Could you share some specific examples of how Immediate Past President Amy Koester’s leadership has positively impacted ALSC during her term?