Literacy for a Reimagined World:

Join us for an inspiring keynote by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad, named top 1% Edu-Scholar Public Influencer due to her influence on policy and practice, as well as bestselling author of Cultivating Genius and Unearthing Joy! A former educator, administrator, and current UIC professor, Dr. Muhammad transforms education through culturally responsive practices, empowering educators to cultivate identity, intellect, criticality, and joy in every learner.

Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, Newbery Honor recipient, and former Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Renowned for his unforgettable storytelling (Long Way Down, Ghost, and more), Jason brings a passionate commitment to ensuring all young people—especially reluctant readers—see themselves reflected in literature.

Dr. Rebecca Winthrop is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. A globally recognized scholar in education policy, Dr. Winthrop heads the Global Task Force on AI in Education and is a leading voice on how artificial intelligence impacts student learning, literacy, and critical thinking skills.

Veteran educator and viral social media sensation Gerry Brooks brings humor, heart, and 20+ years of experience to our keynote stage. With over 500,000 social media followers, Gerry delivers practical, uplifting strategies to transform school culture, empower teachers, and inspire strong leadership. Don’t miss this energizing keynote!

September 1st: Proposals Application Opens

October 15th: Proposal Deadline

December 15th: Acceptance/Regrets Notifications Sent to Presenters

December 31st: Conference Scholarship Application Deadline

January 15th: Dates/Time Slots of Sessions Finalized & Shared with Presenters

February 1st: Last Day for Early Bird Rates (Conference Fees increase 2/2/27)

March 21st-23rd: 56th Annual NCRA Literacy Conference in Winston-Salem