Elisa Rodriguez

ELISA RODRIGUEZ OF NEWFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NAMED TO GLOBAL 30 UNDER 30 LIST 

Newark, Del. (January 10, 2023) — Elisa Rodriguez, an Academic Intervention Specialist in reading at Newfield Elementary School, is one of 30 literacy leaders named to the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) 2023 30 Under 30 list. This year’s global list celebrates rising leaders and visionaries in the literacy field from 15 countries who are working to advance literacy practices and create more equitable learning environments across the globe. 

The 29-year-old of Ithaca, New York, was recognized for her classroom work with adolescent and elementary students as an English teacher and literacy interventionist, her work with past district committees on cultivating diverse text sets, and her efforts to provide meaningful professional development to other educators as president of the Seven Valley Reading Council, a local chapter of the New York State Reading Association. 

Rodriguez joins a growing cohort of education leaders. Past honorees include Akash Patel, Spanish teacher and founder of Happy World Foundation; Allister Chang, founder of Civic Suds; and Shiza Shahid, cofounder of the Malala Fund. 

“Improving the quality of literacy learning across the globe requires collaboration among sectors and among a vast range of professionals, which is one of the many reasons we look forward to sharing the stories of our 30 Under 30 honorees,” says Nicola Wedderburn, ILA’s interim executive director. “With each list of emerging leaders, we see educators, administrators, authors, technology experts, nonprofit leaders, business leaders and advocates of all kinds who are invested in our mission of literacy for all. Together, they are working toward a more hopeful future and a literacy landscape where equitable learning opportunities are a reality in every corner of the world.” 

ILA’s 30 Under 30 honorees are featured in the January/February/March 2023 issue of Literacy Today, ILA's member magazine, which published today. To view the Literacy Today feature and read more about the honorees’ accomplishments, visit literacyworldwide.org/30under30

About the International Literacy Association 
The International Literacy Association (ILA) is a professional membership organization of literacy educators, researchers and experts spanning 112 countries. For more than 65 years, ILA has set the standard for how literacy is defined, taught and evaluated, connecting research and practice to improve the quality of literacy learning across the globe. Through its Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals, ILA provides an evidence-based benchmark for the development and evaluation of literacy professional preparation programs. ILA collaborates with partners across the world to develop, gather and disseminate high-quality resources, which include three peer-reviewed and edited journals—The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy and Reading Research Quarterly. Learn more at literacyworldwide.org.   

Thank you for all you are doing for our students and families.  

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Eric Hartz
Superintendent
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