Registration
Join us in Memphis on September 19-20, 2025!
The 2025 Memphis Literacy Conference includes two days of professional development at Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, TN. Please join us for one or both days! See below for details.
Friday, September 19, 2025 | 8:30am-11am
Location: Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, TN
For: School leaders, instructional leaders and coaches, district-level leaders, state-level leaders, stakeholders or advocates.
Cost: FREE
Presenter: PIVOT: School Improvement Leaders
Session Title: Literacy Starts at the Top: The Leader’s Role in Reading Success
Description: Strong literacy outcomes don’t happen by chance—they happen by design. In this session, school leaders will explore the critical role they play in creating the conditions for effective literacy instruction. We’ll unpack the enabling systems that can make or break schoolwide reading success, including master scheduling, high-impact PLCs, coaching structures, and the development of teacher knowledge and skills. Participants will walk away with concrete strategies to strengthen these systems and align their leadership moves to accelerate literacy growth for all students.
Session Objectives:
1. Identify the key enabling systems that support effective literacy instruction.
2. Analyze the current state of these systems within their own schools and assess their alignment to strong literacy outcomes.
3. Understand the leader’s role in designing, monitoring, and continuously improving systems that support literacy instruction.
4. Develop an initial action plan to refine or implement one or more enabling systems that create the conditions for improved literacy learning.
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 8:30am-3pm
Location: Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, TN
For: PreK-12 Teachers & Leaders
Cost: $55 (Early Bird Discount until August 1)
Presenters: Coming soon…
Description: With a wide range of sessions designed for early childhood, elementary, secondary, Multilingual Learner (MLL), and Special Education educators—as well as a leadership track—attendees will learn practical, research-based strategies they can immediately apply in their own classrooms.
Attendees will choose from a variety of offerings to build their own schedule of three sessions, all held throughout Crosstown Concourse. New this year, we are extending sessions from 60 to 75 minutes to allow attendees enough time to soak in all the literacy goodness our presenters have to offer. Each session includes a "recommended audience" label to help attendees identify the most relevant opportunities for their role and interests. Stay tuned for presenter and session title launches.
Registration includes attendance, lunch, a T-shirt, and a swag bag.
Refund policy: Refund requests received on or before September 6, 2025 will be honored but are subject to an administrative fee. Registrants canceling on or after September 7, 2025 will not receive a refund, but registration may be transferred to another individual. In the event that the Memphis Literacy Conference is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, the cost of registration will be refunded.
Conference Weekend Details
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8:30-8:45am
Coffee, breakfast, and mingling8:50-11:00am
“Literacy Starts at the Top: The Leader’s Role in Reading Success” led by PIVOT: School Improvement Leaders -
8:30-9:00am
Arrival & Registration
9:00-9:15am
Welcome
9:15-10:00am
Keynote
10:15-11:30am
Session 1*
11:30am-12:15pm
Lunch
Optional Lunch & Learn Sessions:
Reading Specialist Certification, STEM and Literacy Fellowship, Teacher Residency
12:15-1:30pm
Session 2*
1:45-3:00pm
Session 3*
*You will attend the sessions of your choosing during each session block. Schedule of session titles and descriptions coming soon. -
The Memphis Literacy Conference has historically qualified for state of Tennessee PDPs, Memphis-Shelby County Schools PLZ, and TASL (Tennessee Academy for School Leaders). To qualify for MSCS PLZ credit, you'll need to sign up for Conference through PLZ in advance using the course code (not yet available).
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Parking is available in the Crosstown Concourse parking garage and and surrounding parking lots. You may want to allow some extra time to park and enter the building. For any unique variabilities or assistance, please email us at MLC@memphistr.org.
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Friday Literacy PD: Coffee and light breakfast provided.
Saturday Conference: Lunch provided according to your registration preference (including vegan/vegetarian and gluten-free options).
Other food/drink items are available for purchase from a variety of Crosstown Concourse vendors.
“I had access to trained and experienced professionals/experts in literacy. It was truly a privilege to be among like-minded people who want to not only promote literacy, but to create social justice through making literacy a priority.”
“The sessions were great and truly helpful in my planning this year. I have tools that can be applied to any subject I teach.”
“The Memphis Literacy Conference is a wonderful professional development opportunity in the critically important area of reading. Signing up our teachers will benefit our school, the many teachers on our team and, of course, ultimately our students.”