Literacy Leaders Conference 2026
11th Annual Literacy Leaders Conference
March 28nd, 2026
Collaborate, Communicate, Educate: Developing Literacy for Life
REGISTER TODAY!
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Come join the Jefferson County Reading Council, the West Virginia Reading Association, and Shepherd University for the Annual Literacy Leaders Conference. A teacher-friendly conference, this professional development event offers a wide variety of sessions that focus on literacy across the curriculum and in the real world.
Content will be offered in Early, Elementary and Secondary Education.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION:
“Writing a New Chapter: Thriving While Surviving”
Bryan B. Hott
Bryan B. Hott is currently a fourth-grade teacher at Mill Creek Intermediate School in Bunker Hill, West Virginia. Hott has been a fourth-grade teacher for the past thirteen years. Before transitioning into the elementary classroom, he also served as a music educator. A proud graduate of Shepherd University, Hott holds degrees in Music Education, Mass Communications, and Political Science, as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching, all earned with summa cum laude honors.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hott has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and leadership. He was named the 2024–2025 Berkeley County Teacher of the Year, a finalist for West Virginia State Teacher of the Year, the 2020 West Virginia Math Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and an A Caring Educator (ACE) for Berkeley County Schools in 2018.
Hott’s philosophy centers on giving children opportunities to collaborate, debate, share strategies, and engage in open dialogue so that they grow into strategic, independent thinkers both inside and outside the classroom.
Bryan’s teaching blends creativity, compassion, and high expectations, encouraging students not only to survive challenges but to truly thrive. Through his work, Mr. Hott seeks to inspire both students and fellow educators by reminding them of the lasting impact teachers make when they lead with heart, purpose, and a belief in the power of literacy!
SESSION INFORMATION
Eleventh Annual Literacy Leaders Conference
March 28th 2026
Located on Shepherd University campus, Erma Ora Byrd Hall, 301 N. King St, Shepherdstown, WV 25443.
8:00-9:00 Registration and Best Practices Poster Session
9:00-10:00 Welcome and Keynote Address – EOB Auditorium
Workshops
Session 1 (10:15-11:00) |
Session 2 (11:15-12:00) |
Session 3 (12:15-1:00) |
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| Room 102 | Family Reading Resources (PK/K and Elementary) |
Discovering Dyslexia: What to Look for and How to Help (PK/K and Elementary) |
Roll out the R.E.D. Carpet: Using Family and Community to Encourage Reading Every Day (PK/K and Elementary) |
| Room 103 | Direct Instruction as Supplemental Reading Curriculum (Elementary) |
Finding your Confidence Using We Will Write (Elementary) |
Helping Students Overcome the “Blank Page Stare Down” (Elementary) |
| Room 105 | Building Digital Literacy with AI: Creating Classroom Chatbots using Google Gemini (Secondary) |
Responsible, Ethical, and Effective AI Use in the Classroom (Secondary) |
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| Room 106 | Your Brain on Reading: Let’s Elevate the Science of Reading (PreK/K and Elementary) |
Stepping into a Picture: Using Visual Literacy as a Bridge to Deep Comprehension (Secondary) |
How to Thrive When their Behavior Doesn’t: Motivation for the Hard Days (Elementary and Middle School) |
| Room 109 | There’s More than One Way to Write a Research Paper (High School) |
Conducting Directed Small Groups with Structured Literacy Curriculums (PK/K and Elementary) |
WVRA Meeting (PreK/K, Elementary, and Secondary) |
| Room 111 | Developmentally Appropriate Alphabet Instruction (PreK/K) |
Expanding Role Models in Literacy Classrooms: Why Male Voices Matter (Pk/K and Elementary) |
Growing Mathematicians through Literature (PreK/K) |
| Room 115 | Stronger Together: Using Collaboration to Strengthen Literacy and Learning (Middle School) |
Policy, Initiative, and Practice: How ELA Educator Practices Impact Student Literacy Proficiency Part A (Secondary) |
Policy, Initiative, and Practice: How ELA Educator Practices Impact Student Literacy Proficiency Part B (Secondary) |
1:15-2:00 Lunch in the Student Center Ballroom
2:00-2:45 Closing of General Session
2:45-3:00 EDPD 699 Credit Option Orientation: Expectations and Overview
CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS & POSTER PRESENTATIONS
If you are interested in presenting at the Literacy Leaders Conference or are a student interested in submitting a workshop proposal, please use the links below to learn more about the process and submit your proposals.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION