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CCIRA September Newsletter 2025
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Look Who's Coming To
The 2026 Conference!
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Penny Kittle
Join us at the CCIRA Conference to learn from renowned author and educator Penny Kittle! With over 40 years of experience inspiring readers and writers, Penny will share powerful strategies to help students build joyful, independent reading lives and develop authentic, compelling writing. Her sessions—designed for teachers from PreK to grade 12—offer practical, creative techniques to bring storytelling, bookmaking, and writing craft to life in your classroom. Don’t miss this chance to energize your teaching and empower your students!
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Katie Kelly
As a professor, author, and former teacher, Katie brings a wealth of expertise in helping students become critically curious and compassionate readers and writers. Her keynote, Reenergizing Our Purpose through the Power of Literacy, will inspire you to harness reading as a tool for empathy, equity, and action, while her session on Refreshing Read Alouds offers practical strategies to build language comprehension and deepen students’ understanding. Gain valuable insights from the author of From Empathy to Action and Critical Comprehension as she shares engaging, research-based practices to transform your classroom.
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Cara Mentzel
Join us for a lively luncheon with Cara Mentzel, author of the memoir Voice Lessons: A Sisters Story and co-author, with her sister Idina Menzel, of the delightful picture books Loud Mouse and Proud Mouse. Drawing on her 15+ years as a literacy specialist and classroom teacher, Cara brings humor, heart, and real-world insight to her session, The Complete Idiom’s Guide to Being a Literacy Educator in 2026. Through engaging stories and clever use of idioms, she’ll help you reflect on what matters most in teaching and how to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. You’ll leave this luncheon inspired, reenergized, and ready to bring fresh creativity into your classroom!
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Gravity Goldberg
Experience an energizing keynote and sessions with Gravity Goldberg, educator of 25 years and author of The Body-Brain Connection. Gravity brings powerful insights into how our bodies and minds work together to support learning. Her keynote, How the Body-Brain Connection Can Help Us Refresh Our Teaching, will help you see teaching in a whole new way, while her sessions explore how intentional movement and simple shifts can increase student engagement, boost comprehension, and create more joyful learning experiences. You’ll leave inspired and equipped with practical strategies to bring energy, connection, and curiosity to your classroom.
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Ashlee Saddler
As a national leader in education and professional learning, Ashlee draws on 18 years of experience as a principal, district leader, and mental health professional to help educators reconnect with their passion and purpose. In her luncheon, Power Up: Reignite Passion, Purpose, and Possibility, she will guide you through energizing exercises, actionable strategies, and powerful insights to awaken your drive, realign with your purpose, and unlock new possibilities for yourself and those you lead. Leave ready to hit refresh, reignite your vision, and make a meaningful impact in your classroom, school, and community.
| | Friday Happy Hour and Saturday Morning Speaker | | |
John Schu
Join us for an inspiring Saturday session with John Schu, children’s librarian, former classroom teacher, and New York Times best-selling author of Louder Than Hunger, This Is a School, This Is a Story, Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea, and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life. Introduced by fellow educator and speaker Colby Sharp, John will lead The Gift of Story, a session exploring the powerful ways stories touch our hearts, connect us to others, and inspire empathy, healing, and understanding. Through five affective elements of story—healer, inspiration, clarifier, compassion, and connector—you’ll discover how sharing and engaging with stories can transform the reading experience for both students and educators. Walk away with a renewed appreciation for the emotional and transformative power of literacy.
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Looking For Professional Development?
Dr. Katie Kelly will be presenting at the conference and has dates right before or after our February event when she can come to your district or school. Check out her flyer below!!
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Mark your calendar for our 2026 CCIRA Conference on Literacy! We encourage you to join us as a vendor for the 2026 Conference in Denver, Colorado, February 5-7, 2026.
As a vendor you'll be part of one of the largest literacy conferences in the region. The conference will be held at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Denver on Quebec Street. The hotel offers several amenities including a large locked ballroom for exhibits, comfortable conversation areas, restaurants, and accessible parking.
This year’s theme will help educators “Hit Refresh” and inspire them to reorganize, reconnect, and "re-vision" their practice. Our exhibit hall will offer vendors limitless opportunities to interact with approximately 600 educators, invited speakers, authors, students, and other vendors. The exhibit area is spacious and centrally located within the conference itself.
Exhibit registration is now open. Click the link below to join us as a vendor for the 2026 Conference on Literacy! *Your space is not reserved until you have both registered and paid for your booth.
Highlights for our 2026 Vendors:
PRICING/SCHEDULE:
● Cost is $700 for Early Bird registration which ends on October 1, 2025. The price will then increase to $800.
● The exhibit hall is in a large, lockable ballroom. The space is well-lit, and easily accessible to all attendees.
● The exhibit hall will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday. In addition to the 7-8:45 time slot (before Keynote), we have specifically scheduled times for attendees to peruse the hall:
7:00-8:45 am
10-10:30
12:00-12:30
1:30-2:00
● Attendees will have opportunities to visit throughout the day as their schedules permit.
● A table with a skirting and tablecloth, Wifi, and electricity, and free parking are included in the vendor fee.
GOOSECHASE:
● We will be using Goosechase once again for our event. It is an interactive app designed to encourage people to explore the exhibit hall and engage with vendors! Goosechase allows us to track attendees' activities throughout the conference. We invite you to contribute donations for prizes that will be awarded to participants who enter Goosechase activities. Each vendor will create a unique "mission" for attendees to complete at their booth (we'll reach out later with details). It's lots of fun and increases booth perusal!
SPONSORSHIPS/ADVERTISEMENTS:
● As vendors, you can sponsor an event during the conference. This can be as simple as providing cookies for the attendees or perhaps sponsoring a special event during the day and/or evening. You can look at our website for options and contact Lisa Kahn, Executive Director, to discuss opportunities and sponsorship details.
● Advertisements in the conference program can be purchased at the time of registration.
We remain committed to making the exhibits an important part of the conference experience. Exhibits at the conference are relevant and valuable for both attendees and vendors.
Please register now to reserve your space! Early registration helps with planning, and is more economical for vendors! Please do not hesitate to contact CCIRA with any questions.
Anne Cook (Exhibitor Chair)
annecook59@gmail.com
Mary Jo Ziegman (Co-Chair)
mjziegman@gmail.com
| | Colorado Children's Book Nominees Are Out! | | |
2026 Nominees
Here are the nominees for the 2026 Picture Book and Junior Book categories! Be sure to have these books available in your school so your students can read, enjoy, and cast their votes for the 2026 winners!
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Click the button to find a PDF of the 2026 nominees
and information on how to have students vote.
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CCIRA Professional Development Blog
All Things Literacy
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The CCIRA blog features a wide variety of nationally renowned literacy experts, as well as talented practitioners from across Colorado. Check out the posts on https://ccira.blog/
📢New Blog Alert!!📢
Additional posts by previous speakers include:
If you are interested in submitting a guest post to the CCIRA blog, please contact Hollyanna Bates. hollyannabates@gmail.com
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Did you know that CCIRA does more than just host an excellent conference? We provide funding for literacy initiatives around the state!
Nancy Fox Grant - Due October 1
The purpose of this grant is to encourage and support CCIRA participants’ efforts to involve families in a community celebration that incorporates practices that support literacy in children’s lives. Applicants may receive up to $500!
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Model Literacy Award - Due October 10
CCIRA sponsors a Model Literacy Award to recognize outstanding language arts programs in schools. The awards will showcase effective literacy instruction in schools. The exemplary reading programs will also serve as models for other schools. State recognition will be given to schools that meet the established criteria. The award of a plaque and $1,000 will be presented at the CCIRA Conference. The schools receiving this award could expect on-site visitations from interested people.
| | | | Put it in your calendar now! CCIRA's next Board of Directors Meeting will be held at the Lone Tree Hub on September 13th from 9:00-1:00. Please plan on being there if you serve on your local council so we can have important conversations and make decisions. Lunch will be included! Please RSVP today! Anyone interested in serving with CCIRA is welcome too! Please reach out to Michele Warner if you'd like to join us. | | |
Make a Difference in Literacy Education - Volunteer With CCIRA!
CCIRA is always looking for passionate volunteers to help support literacy education in meaningful ways! There are many opportunities to get involved, including:
📌 Executive Committee & Board of Directors – Help shape the future of CCIRA through leadership roles.
📌 Local Councils – Engage with your community to promote literacy initiatives.
📌 Annual Conference – Assist in running one of the most impactful literacy conferences in the country.
📌 Other Key Tasks – From outreach to event coordination, there’s a place for everyone!
Volunteering with CCIRA is a fantastic way to connect with fellow educators, develop leadership skills, and contribute to a cause that transforms lives through literacy.
Interested? Contact CCIRA President, Michele Warner, today!
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CCIRA is a non-profit organization that works to empower literacy educators. As a non-profit organization, we appreciate support in a variety of ways:
- Donate
- Support a Conference Scholarship Opportunity
- Leverage fundraising programs to earn CCIRA money
- Volunteer with CCIRA
| | | | As an organization, we are always looking for partnerships. We have a connected community and love new opportunities to provide educators with more professional learning opportunities! Please reach out to someone on our Executive Committee (listed below) for more information on how we can work together for educators! | | |
CCIRA Partners in Empowering Literacy Educators
TOP REASONS TO PARTNER WITH CCIRA
- Over 600 conference attendees will learn about your partnership with CCIRA.
- Our educator community will see your support on our webpage.
- Visitors to the CCIRA website will learn about your organization and its events.
- Our combined support of literacy will impact students across our state and neighboring states.
| | CCIRA is here to empower literacy educators! | | CCIRA collaboratively encourages, supports, and advances literacy through research-based instructional practices to increase literacy access to all. | | All people will be empowered to critically engage in our changing world by developing and utilizing literacy skills throughout life. | | |
We want to hear from you!
Contact Us!
CCIRA Executive Committee
Michele Warner, President:
warnermichele4@gmail.com
Lisa Kahn, Executive Director:
lisakahnccira@gmail.com
Anne Folsom, Conference Chair 2024:
annefolsomccira@gmail.com
Rebecca Hoover, Secretary:
rhoovr@gmail.com
Molly Rauh, Treasurer:
mollycciratreasurer@gmail.com
Amy Vermeulen, Marketing Co-Chair: amy.ccira@gmail.com
Tanisha Lee, Marketing Co-Chair:
tanisha.lee@jeffco.k12.co.us
Corina Strickland, Member at Large:
corina@strickco.com
Christina Lamb, Member at Large:
cristina.lamb@weldre5j.org
| |  | Is your local council, state committee, school, or community doing something extraordinary for literacy in Colorado? Do you have a great idea to share with other educators on how to enhance literacy in the classroom? Do you know of a conference or event that CCIRA members might be interested in attending? If so, please contact Amy Vermeulen (amy.ccira@gmail.com) to submit information for publication. | | | | | |
