Learn more about our fabulous

2025 CCIRA Conference speakers!

Click the button below to read all about them and access links to their

websites and social media pages.

Meet Some of Our Thursday Speakers!

Towanda Harris - Keynote

In her keynote, Towanda will share the value and impact of making authentic curriculum connections using culturally responsive teaching practices that center students’ voice and yield agency. Her sessions will be an extension of her keynote and will include time for Q&A. Read her book The Right Tools: A Guide to Selecting, Evaluating, and Implementing Classroom Resources and Practices.

Dr. Katy Anthes - Luncheon

During her luncheon, Dr. Katy Anthes will help us build our “healthy conflict” muscles—muscles that allow us to be curious, disagree, problem solve, bring new ideas to bear and then go have dinner with the people with whom we disagree. Being the former Commissioner of Education for the state of Colorado, Katy has plenty of experience with the polarization within our nation and our local communities, and has created FORWARD, an initiative to help us navigate these waters and bring the focus back to doing what's best for students.

Dr. Paul (P.L.) Thomas

In his sessions, Dr. Thomas will discuss the current conversations in reading education and provide some historical context with other "science of" movements. Be sure to look at his book How to End the Reading War and Serve the Literacy Needs of All Students: A Primer for Parents, Policy Makers, and People Who Care.



Andrea Wang

Memoir writing not only grows students' writing skills, but can also help them process their experiences and gain insight. In her sessions, Andrea will use her own books as well as others' to discuss why teaching students to write memoir is so important. Andrea is the beloved author of Watercress, Luli and the Language of Tea, Summer at Squee, The Many Meanings of Meilan, and Magic Ramen.



Gretchen Schroeder

Often overlooked in literature and classroom discussions, rural experiences hold a wealth of stories and perspectives. At this year's conference, Gretchen will explore the importance of integrating rural identity into the ELA curriculum so students can understand and perhaps connect with the challenges and triumphs of rural living.



We have a new venue for the 2025 Conference!

DoubleTree by Hilton

3203 Quebec St., Denver

This new venue features a perfect layout for the conference. It's newly renovated with plenty of parking and on-site dining choices.

Costs for rooms and luncheons will be less too!

Help us spread the word!

We would love to see you and as many of your friends and coworkers as possible at this year's conference! Click the button to access the 2025 CCIRA Conference Flyer so you can share the details.

✅Email it the to your educator friends.

✅Hang it over the copier in your building.

✅Display it in the staff lounge.

✅Put copies in everyone's box at your school.

✅Do all of the above!

Want to join us as a vendor?

We are very excited about our new space for the exhibit hall at the Double Tree and would love to have you there! Click the button below to learn how to purchase space, advertise, or sponsor a part of the conference. Don't miss this opportunity!

Highlights for our 2025 Vendors:

• Cost this year is $700 for early bird registration that ends October 1, 2024. The price will increase to $800 after this date. 

• This year’s exhibit space will be in a large, lockable ballroom. It’s a beautiful, well-lit space, and easily accessible to all attendees.

• The exhibit hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Additionally, attendees may choose to set aside a time in their schedule to visit the exhibits. NO SESSIONS ARE SCHEDULED DURING SEVERAL OF THESE TIMES SO ATTENDEES CAN VISIT BOOTHS.

• Everyone will have a tablecloth, Wifi, and electricity included in the cost of the registration, along with free parking.

• We're excited to announce we'll again be using Goosechase. Goosechase is an interactive app designed to engage attendees, encouraging them to explore the exhibit hall and interact with you! Through Goosechase, we can track attendees' activities as they navigate the conference. You'll be able to contribute donations for prizes for participants who visit your booths. We'll reach out to you at a later date to create a unique "mission" for attendees to complete at your booth. It's lots of fun! 

• As vendors, there are many ways to sponsor an event during the conference. This can be as small as cookies for the attendees, or as big as sponsoring a special event. Look at our website for options and contact Lisa Kahn, Executive Director, to discuss opportunities and sponsorship details.

• Advertisements in the conference program can be purchased at the time of registration.

• We remain committed to making the Exhibits a part of the conference experience that is relevant and valuable for both attendees and exhibitors.

CCIRA Professional Development Blog

All Things Literacy

The CCIRA blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out the posts on https://ccira.blog/  

📢New Blog Alert!!📢

We've had two new blog posts since our last issue of the Communicator. Please take a moment to read From Empathy to Compassion: Reading to Make a Difference by Katie Kelly & Lester Laminack and Teaching the Writing That Students Need Now by Kelly Boswell. Other blog posts you will find are A Portal to Poetry and Wonder by Georgia Heard, Should We Use AI to Generate Mentor Texts by Carl Anderson and Matt Glover, The Art and Science of Reading by Jennifer Sarravalo, A Conversation with John Schu, and Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations: Families Know by Nawal Qarooni along with so many more! Most of the authors will be, or already have been CCIRA Conference presenters!!

If you are interested in submitting a guest post to the CCIRA blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates. hollyannabates@gmail.com

The 24-25 school year is almost upon us! Be sure the books nominated below are part of your school shopping list. Students should spend time reading them, and then vote on their favorite. Click the button below to find out more! Your students will love it!

Click the button to find a PDF of the 2025 nominees

and information on how to have students vote.

BookBreak has developed a national partnership of elementary and middle schools working together to bring best-selling author events to schools of all sizes, with a high school program on the horizon. We know how important it is for all children to be able to hear from authors, not just the small minority of schools that can afford top-dollar speaking fees. BookBreak pools resources of member schools to create 2 to 3 monthly online author talks from best-selling authors including Jeff Kinney, Lois Lowry, Jason Reynolds, Kate DiCamillo, Matt de la Peña, Katherine Applegate, Peter Reynolds, Mary Pope Osborne, and Dan Santat. Since our launch in September 2023, we've had 2,000+ participating schools and more than two million student views across the country, including from Academy SD, Jefferson County SD, Steamboat Springs SD, Summit SD, and Telluride SD in Colorado.

We also have an ADDITIONAL discount of 20% if three or more schools from a district have paying membership (any combination of elementary or middle schools) - as well as our BOGO initiative where schools that are classified as high-poverty (80% or more low-income family classification) receive access to BookBreak for FREE with each paying membership school in Colorado!

Contact Becky Brent for more information at becky@libraryc.org

or go to bookbreaks.org.

Nancy Fox Grant - Due September 30

The purpose of this grant is to encourage and support CCIRA participants’ efforts to involve families in a community celebration that incorporates practices that support literacy in children’s lives. Applicants may receive up to $500!

Model Literacy Award - Due October 10

CCIRA sponsors a Model Literacy Award to recognize outstanding language arts programs in schools. The awards will showcase effective literacy instruction in schools. The exemplary reading programs will also serve as models for other schools. State recognition will be given to schools that meet the established criteria. The award of a plaque and $1,000 will be presented at the CCIRA Conference. The schools receiving this award could expect on-site visitations from interested people.

CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the Lone Tree Hub on September 14th from 9:00-2:00. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. An RSVP form will be sent out as the date approaches. Reach out to Michele Warner at warnermichele4@gmail.com with any questions.

CCIRA is a non-profit organization that works to empower literacy educators. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate support in a variety of ways:

• Donate
• Support a Conference Scholarship Opportunity
• Leverage fundraising programs to earn CCIRA money
• Volunteer with CCIRA

Featured Fundraiser!

CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators

TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA

• Over 2000 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
• Our educator community will see your support on our webpage.
• Visitors to the CCIRA website will learn about your organization and its events.
• Our combined support of literacy will impact students across our state and neighboring states.

CCIRA collaboratively encourages, supports, and advances literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all.

All people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life.

CCIRA.inc. | ccirainfo@gmail.com | ccira.org