UPCOMING EVENTS
57th Annual ALA Fall Conference
Readers Today, Leaders Tomorrow
December 4-5, 2025
The Wynfrey Hotel | Hoover
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Carol Tolman
Dr. Tim Shanahan
Dr. Carol Tolman
ALA Summer Leadership Workshop
June 30, 2025
Birmingham, AL
PREVIOUS EVENTS
ALA Winter Leadership Meeting
Saturday, February 22, 2025
University of Alabama at Birmingham
ALA Fall Conference
The 56th Annual Alabama Literacy Association Fall Conference will be held at the Birmingham Marriott on November 7-8, 2024.
Speakers include Dr. Wiley Blevins, Dr. Holly Lane, Dr. Eric Mackey,
author Lori Nichols and ARI Director Bonnie Short.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Wiley Blevins
Wiley Blevins has a Doctorate in Education. He studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bowling Green State University. He is an author, educational consultant, and researcher, and has taught both in the United States and South America. Wiley has written over 17 books for teachers, including A FRESH LOOK AT PHONICS, PHONICS FROM A TO Z, DIFFERENTIATING PHONICS INSTRUCTION FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT, and CHOOSING AND USING DECODABLE TEXTS. He has authored several phonics and reading programs and wrote the phonics brief by the International Literacy Association (Meeting the Challenges of Early Literacy Phonics Instruction). Wiley's current focus is on adaptive technology, differentiated professional development, and children's literature. Wiley has written over 100 children's books and is SVP and Associate Publisher at Reycraft Books, a new imprint focused on publishing books by authors and illustrators from under-represented groups.
Dr. Blevins’ Keynote is sponsored by:
Marjorie Bottari, M.Ed.
Marjorie Bottari is the Director of Content Development at Heggerty. She has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, administrator, and adjunct professor. In 2022, Marjorie led the revisions of the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness program and co-authored several key resources, including "Bridge the Gap," "Bridge to Reading Grade 3," the "Primary Extension Phonemic Awareness" curriculum, and the "Early Pre-Kindergarten Phonological Awareness" curriculum. As the host of The Literacy Lunch Break podcast, Marjorie is committed to promoting high-quality literacy instruction. With a firm belief in literacy as a powerful equalizer, she empowers educators to create strong, equitable learning environments for all students.
Marjorie’s keynote is sponsored by:
Dr. Holly Lane
Dr. Lane is the Director of the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI, pronounced “you fly”) and an associate professor of special education. Her research focuses on effective reading instruction and intervention and helping teachers develop the knowledge and skills they need to teach reading effectively, especially using evidence-based practices to promote the development of foundational reading skills. She is author of UFLI Foundations: An Explicit and Systematic Phonics Program. It is currently being implemented in classrooms across the United States and around the world.
Dr. Eric Mackey
Dr. Eric G. Mackey serves as the Alabama State Superintendent of Education. Since being named state superintendent in 2018, Mackey has focused on innovative initiatives outlined in the strategic plan, Alabama Achieves, including the Alabama Literacy Act, STEM, Career Technical Education, and workforce development. He recognizes the importance of the whole child approach in promoting the long-term development and success of all children.
During his tenure, high school graduation and college and career readiness rates have increased with Alabama’s high school seniors of 2020 graduating at 90.6%. More than 87% of Alabama high schools students are currently enrolled in at least one career technical education class and Alabama has been ranked first in the South Central Region for workforce development in 2022.
During his tenure, and through the implementation of these initiatives, Alabama has made significant changes resulting in improvements in student outcomes. In 2022, Alabama was the only state that showed improvement in both reading and math, rising 12 spots, on The Nation’s Report Card – NAEP. Alabama high school graduation and college and career readiness rates have increased with Alabama’s high school seniors graduating at 91% and ranking first in the nation for 2020. Alabama leads the nation in COVID recovery and continues to rise in national rankings including being recognized as one of the top six states in the nation for Computer Science and fifth in the nation for Financial Literacy. Alabama has also been named first in the South-Central Region for workforce development.
Bonnie Short
Director of the Alabama Reading Initiative
Lori Nichols
Alabama Author of the Year
Winter Leadership Meeting
ALA Fall Conference
October 3-4, 2023
ALA Summer Leadership Retreat
August 12, 2023
Our Story: An Alabama Writers' Symposium in historic, downtown Tuscumbia, Alabama occurred on April 21, 2023. Together, we explored the voices that impacted a nation, examining our culture through the lens of literature, poetry and nonfiction written in the American South. Award-winning authors Patti Callahan Henry and North Carolina's former Poet Laureate, Joseph Bathanti, guided attendees to find opportunities to add to their own voices to Our Story.
This project is co-sponsored by the Alabama Humanities Alliance, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Alabama Humanities Alliance or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
