Love and Literacy
This summer, your favorite St. Louis area professional learning organizations are joining forces to host Love & Literacy: a conference for educators in grades K-16 on July 22nd & 23rd, 2025.
ConnectED Learning, Gateway Writing Project, the Language Arts Regional Consortium, and the Missouri Literacy Association invite you to join us in celebrating our local love and expertise of literacy!
Schedule
July 22nd, 2025
7:30 - 8:30 Registration & Check-In
8:30 - 10:00 Welcome & Keynote
10:15 - 11:30 Break-Out Session A
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch (provided w/ registration)
12:15 - 1:30 Break-Out Session B
1:45 - 3:00 Break-Out Session C
3:10 - 3:30 Closing, Celebration, & Evaluation
July 23rd, 2025
7:30 - 8:30 Registration & Check-In
8:30 - 10:00 Welcome & Keynote
10:15 - 11:30 Break-Out Session D
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch (provided w/ registration)
12:15 - 1:30 Break-Out Session E
1:45 - 3:00 Break-Out Session F
3:10 - 3:30 Closing, Celebration, & Evaluation
Keynote Speakers
Donalyn Miller
Donalyn Miller’s work champions self-selected independent reading, providing guidance and resources that foster children’s love of reading and the development of positive reading identities. A national and international consultant and bestselling author, Donalyn’s published works include The Book Whisperer (Jossey-Bass, 2009), Reading in the Wild (Jossey-Bass, 2013), and Game Changer: Book Access for All Kids (co-written with Colby Sharp, Scholastic, 2018) as well as articles in Gifted Child International, Education Week Teacher, The Reading Teacher, Voices From the Middle, Educational Leadership, Horn Book, School Library Journal, and The Washington Post. Recipient of TCTELA’s Elementary Language Arts Teacher of the Year (2011) and TCTELA’s Edmund J. Farrell Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) (for her contributions to the language arts teaching profession).
Donalyn is also a co-founder of The Nerdy Book Club, an online community which provides inspiration, book recommendations, resources, and advice about raising and teaching young readers. Donalyn and her husband, Don, live in Texas atop a dragon’s hoard of books. You can connect with her on her website BookWhisperer.com, or on Twitter at @DonalynBooks.
Troy Hicks and Andy Schoenborn
Troy Hicks
Dr. Troy Hicks is a professor of English and education at Central Michigan University where he collaborates with K–12 colleagues to explore how they implement newer literacies in their classrooms. He directs the Chippewa River Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project, and teaches masters and doctoral courses in educational technology. During the 2020-21 school year, he is serving as the leader of a Teaching with Primary Sources grant through the Library of Congress, and as a co-editor of the Michigan Reading Journal.
Andy Shoenborn
Andy is a dedicated educator focused on fostering literacy through progressive, student-centered methods, emphasizing critical thinking, digital collaboration, and multimedia. His extensive teaching experience spans general and special education, from long-term substitute positions to full-time roles, including work in alternative education and college-level instruction. He holds degrees in English, Social Studies, Learning and Behavior Disorders, and actively engages in professional development, serving as Vice President of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English and a National Writing Project teacher consultant, while also mentoring future educators. His commitment to lifelong learning and improving teaching practices is evident in his diverse roles and continuous pursuit of professional growth.
Become a Sponsor!
We are excited to invite you to be a part of the 2nd annual "Love & Literacy” Conference, where K-16 educators, administrators, and curriculum coordinators come together to learn the latest strategies and curriculum to enhance their teaching skills. We have several sponsorship levels available, each with unique benefits, click to learn more!
