Upcoming Conferences & Webinars
Upcoming public events will be posted here. Check back often or sign up for the newsletter so you don’t miss an opportunity!
Conference
October 24, 2025
Secondary Reading League:
46th Day of Reading
Tinley Park Convention Center | Tinley Park, IL
Presenter: Dr. Katie McKnight
The Secondary Reading League is a statewide council of the Illinois Reading Council. SRL’s purpose is to provide opportunities for the formal and informal exchange of ideas related to literacy issues and lifelong learning, with an emphasis on reading and the concerns of secondary educators. Register by 9/15/25 and receive Katie’s 2-Book Set with your Early Bird Registration. Dr. Katie McKnight will deliver the keynote address and present on the topics:
Small Group Instruction for Grades 4-12
Instructional Practices and Routines to Develop Literacy Skills for Deep Content Study
The Science of Reading Applied to Secondary Level
Conference
October 25, 2025
Indiana State Literacy Association 2025 Annual Conference
University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN
Presenter: Dr. Jenny French
Join us at the Indiana State Literacy Association Conference for a day of learning, networking, and celebrating all things literacy. This year’s conference theme is Joyful Literacy! Dr. Jenny French will present on the topic: What the Science of Reading Looks like in Middle and High School.
In-Person Workshop
November 4, 2025
Initiative Mastery:
Prioritizing and Launching School Initiatives that Work
Southern Indiana Education Center (SEIC) | Jasper, IN
Presenter: Dr. Jenny French
Did you know that 80% of school initiatives fail? With so much out of our control, how do we combat initiative fatigue, remain compliant, AND improve student achievement? This workshop is designed exclusively for school administrators seeking to streamline their initiatives and ensure their success. Learn how to conduct a district-wide initiative audit, assess the effectiveness , prioritize programming, and develop a plan for implementation.
In-Person Workshop
November 20, 2025
Writing Reboot:
Teaching Writing When Students Struggle to Read
Southern Indiana Education Center (SEIC) | Jasper, IN
Presenter: Dr. Jenny French
Teaching writing in middle and high school can feel impossible when students have serious gaps in spelling, decoding, and reading comprehension. This workshop is designed for teachers who want to support adolescent writers—but aren’t sure where to begin. We’ll explore high-leverage, research-based strategies that make writing accessible for students with foundational literacy needs. From sentence level scaffolds and guided modeling to vocabulary supports, this session offers realistic, classroom-ready tools that work across content areas. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or new to writing instruction, you'll leave with ideas you can use tomorrow.
Conference
December 8, 2025
2025 Raising Student Achievement Conference
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) | Oak Brook, IL
Presenter: Dr. Katie McKnight
Dr. Katie McKnight is a featured speaker at this year’s IARSS conference and will speak on the following topics:
What Does the Science of Reading Mean for Content Area Teachers? (Grades 4-12)
Building a Middle School/High School Reading Intervention that Works
Creating an Engaging, Evidence-Based Writing Program for Every Subject (With AI Support)
Unlocking Potential: Transform Learning with Small Group Instruction for Grades 4-12
In-Person Workshop
January 21, 2026
Mission Possible:
Practical Solutions When Resources Run Low
Wabash Valley Education Center | West Lafayette, IN
Presenter: Dr. Jenny French
With shrinking budgets and limited support, schools are being asked to do more with less. But less doesn’t have to mean less impact. This workshop introduces a practical framework to help leaders assess what they have, focus on what matters, and maximize existing people, systems, and resources. Whether you're short on materials, staff, or funding, you'll leave with creative, actionable strategies to stretch your resources without sacrificing quality or burning out your team.
Conference
February 3, 2026
The Power of Coaching Conference
VATLL (Virginia Association for Teaching, Learning, and Leading) | Williamsburg, VA
Presenter: Dr. Katie McKnight
In this two-day conference (February 3 and 4), participants will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively serve in the role of instructional coach. As more and more schools bring coaches as part of their staff and as the role of ITRT shifts from resource teacher to coach, this is a much-needed conference for building capacity and for developing strong networks of coaches, instructional leaders, and coach supervisors across the Commonwealth. Dr. Katie McKnight will deliver the keynote address and present on the topic: Reading in the Content Areas for Instructional Coaches.
2025-2026 Partner Schools
Every school year, Engaging Learners leads a few school-wide and district-wide initiatives. By building yearlong (sometimes years-long) relationships with educators, Katie, Jen, and the Engaging Learners team are able to help schools, districts, professional organizations, and entire communities meet larger literacy goals.
Partners for 2025-2026 include:
American Heritage Schools in Plantation, FL
Big Hollow Middle School in Ingleside, IL
Bishop DuBourg High School in St. Louis, MO
McLean County Unit District No. 5 in Normal, IL
St. Johns County School District in St. Augustine, FL
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary, IN
Past Events
For years, the Engaging Learner team has worked with teachers all over the country - all over the world - combining virtual PD with in-person coaching and live presentations.
We can’t list everything on the website of course, but if you want a peek at what we’ve we been up to, just check out our History page.