December | January | February  | March |  April | May | June 

Raising Our Voices: Empowering All Learners Today to Change the World Tomorrow 

Click HERE to read the presenters' biographical information. 

Click HERE to access a PDF of the 2021 Conference Program. (under construction now)

October Voices for Justice

WSRA’s October Voices for Justice Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on our role as educators and community members to demand and fight for an educational system where all students thrive. We’ll explore using literature to honor our humanity and that of others and to empower students to embrace their destiny and raise their voices against hate and injustice as literate citizens. Leading our Voices for Justice Academy will be Bettina Love, Janet Wong, Liz Kleinrock, and Aeriale Johnson. Joining them will be educators Crystal Ballard, Karen Biggs-Tucker, and authors Baptiste Paul and Liza Wiemer. The live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation unless marked as *live only.  The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the October Academy registrants throughout the school year.  

November Joyful Voices

WSRA’s November Joyful Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on creating thriving reading communities in your traditional  and virtual classrooms where choice, voice, and student agency take center stage.Connecting with students in meaningful ways and focusing on equity in instruction are cornerstones during this month of professional learning. Leading our Joyful Voices Academy will be Juana Martinez-Neal, Pernille Ripp, and Kathy Collins. Joining them will be educators Mona Zignego, Lisa Hedrick, Laura Barbieri, Sarah Rowse-Borrelli, Samantha Jayne, and Heinemann author Nancy Steineke. The live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation unless marked as *live only. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the November Academy registrants throughout the school year.  

December Voices for Change

WSRA’s December Voices for Change Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on our pedagogical practices and how we can advance education in both digital and traditional learning environments. Our speakers will explore classroom spaces that are co-constructed, where inquiry and play lead learning, and where literacy practices are not only driven by student choice and voice, but also become a whole-body experience. Leading our Voices for Change Academy will be Yong Zhao, Katie, Kelly, Kristi Mraz, Gravity Goldberg, and Lester Laminack. Joining them will be Mary Lou Harris-Manske, Kate Van Haren, Kristin Halverson, Victoria Rydberg, and Katrena Leininger. The live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation unless marked as *live only. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the December Academy registrants throughout the school year.

January Collaborative Voices

WSRA’s January Collaborative Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on accelerating literacy learning and empowering student voices through dialogic classroom cultures and project-based learning. We’ll also explore constructive coaching conversations that empower teacher voices and increase student achievement. Leading our Collaborative Voices Academy will be Gwendolyn McMillon, Dana Mitra, and Kara Pranikoff. Joining them will be Jen Breezee, Sandra Taylor-Marshall, Kathy Champeau, Merri Komar, Laurie McCarthy, and Terra Tarango. Some of the live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the January Academy registrants throughout the school year.

February Connecting Our Voices

WSRA’s February Connecting Our Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on  Leading our Connecting Our Voices Academy will be Deanna Singh and Sherrill Knezel.  Joining them will be Barb Novak, Laura Adams, Sarah Rowse-Borrelli, Kathy Van Himberg, Jillian Heise, and members of WSRA’s Children’s Literature Committee. Some of the live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the February Academy registrants throughout the school year. 

March Liberating Voices

WSRA’s March Liberating Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on  Leading our Liberating Voices Academy will be Pam Allyn, Ernest Morrell, and Sonja Cherry-Paul. Joining them will be Peg Grafwallner, Radeen Yang, Lauren Zepp, Sandra Taylor-Marshall, and Jen Breezee. Some of the live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the March Academy registrants throughout the school year.  

April Innovative Voices

WSRA’s April Innovative Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on engaging and inspiring learners in  a culture of innovation that amplifies inquiry and honors student agency. Session attendees will leave with practical ideas for classroom practice, intervention, and communication in both traditional and digital learning environments. Leading our Innovative Voices Academy will be Elizabeth Bostwick, Tonya Gilchrist, and Ellin Keene. Joining them will be Diane Salazar, Shoundra Washington, Lisa Kohler, Anne Kissinger, Jen Breezee, and Christina Stefonek.. Some of the live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the April Academy registrants throughout the school year. 

May Powerful Voices

WSRA’s May Powerful Voices Academy will  be presented in both live and pre-recorded sessions. This month’s professional learning will focus on Leading our Powerful Voices Academy will be Katherine Bomer, Tricia Ebarvia, and Marcelle Haddix. Joining them will be Clair Mitchell, Mara Morita, David O’Connor, Nancy Roncke, Aliza Werner, and Liza Wiemer. Some of the live sessions will be recorded and accessible for ten days following the live presentation. The pre-recorded sessions will be available to the May Academy registrants throughout the school year. 

June Emerging Voices