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The ����ӰԺ Grissom School of Education welcomes all Tennessee teachers in grades kindergarten through fifth grade to the second annual Lynn McKee Erwin Conference on Children’s Literature: Igniting the Love for Literacy. The day-long conference, funded by Dr. Ronnie Erwin, in loving memory and honor of his late wife, Lynn, will feature nationally known children’s authors and publishers as well as a noted literacy advocate. This conference is designed to celebrate learning, literacy, and teachers themselves, who everyday make such a difference in the lives of their students—it will present teachers with a wonderful venue by which to earn professional development. The late Mrs. Erwin, herself a teacher, felt that a main attribute of teachers is the encouragement they are able to give children and families. Teachers, she felt, made a huge difference in the life of a child.

The Conference will be held on February 17th, 2024, in Martin Hall Auditorium on the ����ӰԺ campus, in Pulaski, TN. The structure of this first annual conference includes eight sessions throughout the day. Participants will have the opportunity to hear and work with nationally-known, New York Times best-selling authors: Cynthia Leitich Smith, Don Tate, Frank Murphy, Devin Scillian, and Dr. George Ella Lyon as

well as children’s literacy advocate Ms. Carol Hampton Rasco, former President and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental. In addition, publishers from Lee & Low and Sleeping Bear presses will present on writing and publishing books for children. Though teachers love to look at books for children, that opportunity is not available for most; thus, the Book Gallery will have hundreds of new books for children available for perusal.

How better to celebrate teachers than with free “goodies!” Each participant will receive at least ten books–one-two by each of our authors then those they choose themselves, for a total of ten– as well as a conference bag filled with Conference swag! And of course, lunch and snacks are included in the $10.00 cost of the Conference.

Highlights about our Presenters are Coming Soon!

This conference offers an opportunity for all those attending to sit in the room with leaders in their field, passionate writers of children’s books, fervent supporters of children, sharing the successes of celebrated authors along with UTS celebrating the teachers who guide our children. For questions and/or more information, reach out to Dr. Jan Hanvy, Director of Teacher Education at ����ӰԺ (jhanvy@utsouthern.edu); Dr. Claire Paul, Program Coordinator, Special Education (cpaul11@utsouthern.edu); Dr. Tina Smith, Program Coordinator, Elementary Education (tsmit265@utsouthern.edu). To register and purchase tickets follow this . If you need help, please contact Ms. Amber Birdsong (abirdso1@utsouthern.edu). We hope to see you for the best professional day you have had in a while!

Agenda Coming Soon

The ����ӰԺ is a liberal-arts university established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, founded in 1870. Located in Pulaski, ����ӰԺ stands as the fourth undergraduate campus in the UT System. It is the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis, and situated along Tennessee’s southern border, the campus is conveniently located about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama.