The Michigan Council of Teachers of English is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrea Zellner has been elected as MCTE’s next vice president. Zellner is currently a literacy consultant at Oakland Schools in Waterford, MI, serving all 28 school districts in Oakland County. She is a former high school English and biology teacher. She also works with the Red Cedar Writing Project and the National Writing Project. In 2017, she received her doctorate in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University and continues to focus her research on literacy and teacher learning. Zellner served as a representative-at-large for MCTE in the past and has presented at the Annual Fall Conference. At the Fall Conference in 2018, she suggested and then coordinated MCTE’s first Why I Write selfie, an event that is now a member favorite and fast-becoming an MCTE tradition.
In her position statement, Zellner said that her involvement with MCTE has “been the most fulfilling experience I’ve had as a professional in recent memory, and that is due to the mentorship and camaraderie I have found in MCTE.” Zellner joined MCTE’s diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity committee when she became a representative-at-large and has said that the work of the committee has inspired and galvanized her: “As English teachers, we have so much to say in terms of how literacy is the key to unlocking the doors of justice and opportunity.”
Zellner went on to say, “As vice-president, I plan to carry forward this focus on equity and justice during these uncertain times. The demands on our profession have never been higher. I see MCTE as the organization to lead and support us as we navigate this future. We must continue to advocate for pedagogy that sustains our students and removes barriers to their learning and success.”
Zellner’s acceptance of the role of the vice president comes with a four-year commitment to MCTE. She now enters the presidential cycle for the organization and will serve as vice president, president-elect, president, and then past-president. We welcome Dr. Zellner to the MCTE Executive Board and look forward to her leadership.