Wow, the 2024 Teacher Leader Institute was an incredible event brimming with inspiration, innovation, and camaraderie! Teacher Leaders from across the U.S. gathered in Palm Springs for professional development packed with enlightening keynotes, engaging sessions, and plenty of opportunities for connection and growth.

This year’s TLI theme was Inclusion through Literacy: Stories for All Voices, and our presenters brought down the house with their equity-focused insights and child-centered best practices in literacy education. Alice Lee kicked off the conference with her keynote, The Science of Language and Anti-Blackness: Accounting for Black Language in Reading Instruction, Interventions, and Assessments. Attendees chose from a slate of engaging concurrent sessions with topics ranging from harnessing student data to enhancing small group lessons, in addition to updates from Reading Recovery Trainers and the International Data Evaluation Center. Finally, we reconfirmed our shared commitment to responsive literacy with Allison Briceno’s closing keynote, Leadership in Support of Diversity and Equity: Whatever It Takes.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the Teacher Leader Institute was the opportunity to connect with fellow educators from across the country. From the opening evening reception to informal chats by the pool, the sense of community among these educators is nothing short of heart-warming! We exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and built relationships that will continue to flourish long after TLI.

Until we meet again next year, keep championing inclusion, advocating for children, and leading with purpose!

Scroll through the photo gallery to relive the experience: