ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
The 2027 TCTELA Conference and Exposition theme invites us to lean into the questions that light up our classrooms and the young readers who ask them. Welcoming Wonder: Transforming Literacy Education with Inquiry and Imagination calls us to rediscover the joy of inquiry, to make space for imagination, and to transform literacy education through the power of curiosity. Join us in Denton as we come together to inspire, connect, and renew our shared commitment to every Texas reader and writer.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Literacy educators across all roles and grade levels- from PreK through college- are welcome. Whether you're a classroom teacher, campus librarian, instructional coach, administrator, or reading researcher, TCTELA is your professional home.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE A MEMBER?
There is a nonmember option, but membership has it's benefits!
TCTELA members receive a discounted registration rate, early access to program announcements, and year-round resources. Join TCTELA today.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Registration will open in July. Early bird pricing will be available for a limited time- register by December 11 to save. The registration link will be posted on this page.
WHERE IS THE CONFERENCE?
We're headed to Denton, Texas- home to a vibrant arts scene, great dining, and easy access from the DFW metroplex. The conference is held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center.
CONFERENCE KEYNOTES
Dr. Towanda Harris - Friday Workshop
Equity Made Actionable
Two decades in education. A nationally recognized literacy expert. Author of The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices. Professor and Literacy Coordinator for the School of Education at Clark Atlanta University. Dr. Towanda Harris doesn’t just talk about centering students. She shows us exactly how to do it.
Carole Boston Weatherford - Friday Luncheon
Truth Told Beautifully
Eighty-plus books. Four Caldecott Honors. The 2024 Young People’s Poet Laureate. Carole Boston Weatherford was born with ink in her blood, and her work, including Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre and Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library, reminds us that truth told beautifully can change the world.
Tosh McGaughy - Friday General Session
The PD You’ve Always Deserved
Tosh provides the professional development you have always wished for, personalized, hands-on, TEKS-aligned, and actually built for the educators in the room. She designs learning that is driven by real data and grounded in research. Every session she facilitates is practical, purposeful, and made for teachers.
Stephen and Kayla Briseño - Saturday General Session
Writing Workshops That Feel Like A Gift
A Pura Belpré Honor-winning author and a global writing teacher, Stephen and Kayla have spent over a decade making writing workshops joyful, practical, and transformative. Their books: The Notebook Keeper, Tamales for Christmas, Text Structures from Picture Books, and Text Structures from Nonfiction Picture Books belong on every educator’s shelf. They are educators and book nerds, which means they fit right in with our community.
Mychal Threets - Friday Luncheon
The Librarian Who Makes Everyone Feel Seen
Mychal got his first library card at age five and never looked back. Now a TIME 2020 Next Generation leader, ALA I Love My Librarian Award recipient, and host of the revival of Reading Rainbow, he has built a life around one simple, radical truth: people need to feel welcome. His book, I’m So Happy You’re Here, says it all. When Mychal Threets walks into a room, everyone in it feels seen.
Whitney La Rocca - Sunday Workshop
Emergent Literacy, Elevated. Every Grade Level, Inspired.
A world-renowned author and presenter with a rich background as a teacher, literacy coach, and consultant, Whitney will make you want to run back to your classroom and try something new immediately. Her published works include Patterns of Power (Grades 1–5), Patterns of Wonder (PreK–1), Patterns of Revision (Grades 3–5), and the forthcoming Look Again! (PreK–2). She doesn’t just teach literacy. She ignites it.
Kass Minor - Sunday Workshop
Joy and Justice Taught Firecely
Author of Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools and Co-Founder of The Minor Collective, a community-based organization designed to foster sustainable equity and literacy in schools, Kass Minor, will set the room on fire in the best possible way. Her pedagogy is rooted in joy, and her belief is unshakeable: every adult can teach, and every student can learn.
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Hear from a Texas literacy educator about what makes TCTELA one of the most meaningful professional experiences of the year
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Moments from TCTELA 2026
