Lester L. Laminack holds the title of Professor Emeritus in the Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle Grades Education department at Western Carolina University, situated in Cullowhee, North Carolina. His tenure at the university was marked by the recognition of his outstanding teaching abilities, as he received two prestigious awards for excellence in teaching: the Botner Superior Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
Now dedicating himself entirely to the realms of writing and consultancy, Lester engages with educational institutions across the United States. He maintains an active membership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and has contributed significantly to its initiatives. During his tenure, he held the role of co-editor for the NCTE journal Primary Voices for three years and served as the editor for the Children’s Book Review Department in the NCTE journal Language Arts from 2003 to 2006.
Lester's commitment to education extends beyond his work with NCTE. He served as a teaching editor for Teaching K-8 magazine and authored the Parent Connection column from 2000 to 2002. His involvement also encompasses positions such as Secretary of the North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children, membership on the Board of Directors for the Center for the Expansion of Language and Thinking, and membership on the Whole Language Umbrella Governing Board. From 1987 to 2001, he assumed the role of Basic Reading Consultant to Literacy Volunteers of America.
Furthermore, Lester has actively contributed to various boards, including the Board of Directors of Our Children’s Place [www.ourchildrensplace.com]. Currently, he serves as a board member for the Region A Partnership for Children in western North Carolina and on the board for The Francine Delaney New School for Children in Asheville, NC.