Recap of the 8th Annual Conference of The Reading League

Over 2,500 educators from across the United States and seven countries gathered for our unforgettable, world-class annual conference, showcasing The Reading League’s widespread reach and impact. Here’s a look back at everything that made this year’s conference extraordinary.

The opening ceremony started with a rousing performance by West Charlotte High School’s Marching Lions and Prancing Lionesses, setting the stage for the keynote and energizing the crowd. During the opening ceremony, we heard from CEO and Founder Dr. Maria Murray, Secretary of the Board of Directors Dr. Michelle Storie, and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Heidi Beverine Curry, who all reflected on the growth of The Reading League and shared their excitement about the conference.

The stellar lineup of keynote speakers included renowned authors and researchers Zaretta Hammond, Linnea Ehri, and Barbara Foorman. These esteemed experts provided invaluable insights into research and best practices in reading instruction. Zaretta Hammond, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, made a case for the role of the science of reading in achieving equity, stating that “reading is the epicenter of equity.” She challenged the audience to reflect on the current state of reading instruction:

These messages resonated deeply with attendees, who understand the importance of evidence-aligned literacy instruction in elevating all learners.

Dr. Linnea Ehri, Professor Emerita at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, highlighted key findings from her decades-long career developing orthographic mapping and phase theory and spoke about the research she did to better understand early literacy instruction. She shared helpful tips for educators to understand where students are in their reading journey and what types of support they need to continue progressing. Ehri ended her speech by referencing Dr. Donald Langenberg, chair of the National Reading Panel: “As a physicist chairing this panel for two years and preparing this report, I have come to realize that teaching reading really is much harder than rocket science.”

Dr. Barbara Foorman, Director Emerita of the Florida Center for Reading Research, spoke about the translation of research into instructional practices and curriculum materials, reminding us that our students deserve both highly trained teachers and evidence-informed curricula. She shared results from many of the large-scale studies she conducted over the course of her career, emphasizing the importance of students’ language skills and their mastery of the code.

When we say “it takes a league,” we mean that you’re not alone in your commitment to providing high-quality reading instruction and wanting to improve literacy outcomes for all students. Everyone has a place in our organization and valuable contributions to make to our community of educators. While we aimed to communicate this message throughout all 50+ sessions, several presentations specifically emphasized our commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. These sessions included:

These researchers provided valuable insight into how educators can better reach all of their students and understand their many unique strengths and needs.

The Educators of Color Conference Community’s “All Means All” session was a popular early-bird event, attracting a large audience and providing a passionate and productive panel discussion. Throughout the conference, several other sessions focused on equity and inclusion, ensuring important conversations took place and that everyone felt valued and respected.

The Reading League is incredibly proud of the Compass, which was announced at last year’s conference. It is a resource designed to empower educators from various backgrounds and diverse professional settings to learn more about the science of reading. At this year’s conference, National Science of Reading Project Director Kari Kurto announced two new additions to the Compass:

• Adolescent Literacy: This new page provides guidance for educators and leaders on supporting older readers with complex needs.
• Adolescent Literacy Reading Intervention Evaluation Guidelines (Grades 4-12): This new resource outlines components of effective interventions for older students, all backed by scientific research.

Inspired by the Compass, the conference sessions mimicked its framework, empowering educators to choose from any combination of the following topics to decide their own professional development direction: 

• English Learners 
• Building and District Administration 
• Learning Challenges 
• Dyslexia 
• Intervention and Assessment and 
• Foundational Skills
• Language Comprehension 
• Writing 
• Adolescents
• Educator Preparation

Attendees had exciting opportunities to connect directly with authors at our popular author signings. This year, Lyn Stone, Zaretta Hammond, Jan Hasbrouck, Michelle Hosp, Lindsay Kemeny, Nancy Young, Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Sonia Cabell, and more joined us. Meeting and interacting with their favorite inspirational authors was a conference highlight for many attendees.

Generous sponsors in the exhibit hall added to the vibrant and engaging atmosphere of the conference by offering a variety of free giveaways, product samples, and games; some even hosted their own author events and podcast recordings.

The day before the conference, 100 chapter leaders participated in a leadership retreat themed “Growing the League.” During this time, they were invited to think about how their chapter might grow in diversity and inclusivity, how they might expand their leadership and influence throughout their state, and how they might invite new people into this important and urgent work. They engaged in a DEIB workshop with Altheria Caldera that focused on making genuine invitations to diverse individuals and communities to join their chapters,  boards, and missions. They ended their time together by reflecting on leadership with Dr. Tracy Weeden and Dr. Nell Thompson before hosting a welcome reception in the ballroom for all attendees that evening.

To encourage membership and local connection, each of our 33 chapters was spotlighted in our “Hall of Chapters” where attendees could win gift cards to The Reading League Shop and other prizes in a raffle. Thank you to Andrea Setmeyer and the other chapter leaders for their hard work and dedication to our mission.

This event brought together the brightest minds in the field. Educators from all backgrounds and experience levels had the opportunity to learn from renowned experts and literacy legends, network with colleagues, and share their insights. The conference was a truly inspiring and transformative experience that exceeded expectations. According to Dr. Altheria Caldera, DEIB Consultant,

“The conference contained all the components that make a conference great—rigorous, relevant learning opportunities, inspiring keynote speakers, and diverse perspectives on topics that matter. We even had entertainment by a local high school marching band, which was a thoughtful, culturally significant touch. I’m immensely proud to see the conference evolve. All means all.”

Attendees reported leaving with their hearts and minds full. Having a space to connect with like-minded individuals to laugh, cry, story-tell, and support one another is an experience like no other in our literacy community. The conference was motivating and empowering, igniting a fire within attendees to continue their important change-making work. It reminded them that they were not alone. It takes a league. To quote our founder and CEO, Dr. Maria Murray: 

“The Reading League’s conferences have grown larger each year. This conference grew significantly, but we were committed to downsizing if we sensed that the usual ‘Reading League love-fest vibe’ was absent this year. However, we’re thrilled that the same atmosphere of loving, positive excitement was more present than ever! I believe one reason for this is because we had so many first-timers, and another is that our intentionality in increasing the number of presenters and attendees of color created an even higher level of inclusivity and community.”

The positive energy and excitement were palpable from early registration on Tuesday afternoon to our closing sessions on Thursday evening. From the enthusiasm of our “first-timer” attendees to the camaraderie of our veteran “every-timers,” everyone walked away from the conference with significant learning and transformation.

You won’t want to miss out on this incredible event in 2025! The conference always sells out quickly, so mark your calendars and take our advice—register early. We hope to connect with you in Chicago for the 9th Annual Conference of The Reading League!