Gather in Community: Welcome & Keynote Session with Lorena Germán

Day 2 Conference Schedule 8:30 AM - 9:00 AMGather in Community: Welcome & IntroStart your day by coming together for a warm welcome and exciting announcements! We’ll celebrate the 30 Under 30 Award recipients, share the results of the election, and reveal the 2027 theme. 9:00 AM - 10:00 AMKeynote General Session: Lorena GermánJoin us as we kick off Day 2 with a keynote session from Lorena Germán. In her presentation, Textured Literacy for All, Lorena explains how developing literacy skills should involve developing character. The two are not mutually exclusive, and this notion of a "neutral" education hasn't worked for us as a nation. It's time we boldly stand for truth and narrow our skills so that students can engage others responsibly and humanely. Literature and classrooms are a great avenue for this study! Let us ask ourselves: how can I make sure this content is engaging and relevant to their lives? More importantly, how can I make sure this content helps them see the humanity in others? In this presentation, we will not only explore our understanding and beliefs about literacy, but we will practically learn about specific texts from PreK to adult reading that will make all of these ideas practical. Let’s gather in community and set the tone for a meaningful and enriching Day 2 of the conference!