Thrilled to Be Part of the 2026 YA Literature Summit #YASUMMIT2026 and to Have Opportunity to Learn from Brilliant Educators with a Passion for What Kids Read

I'm ending a frantic week (frantic, because of snow days) with two-days of the collaborative online conference, the YA Literature Summit. I was lucky to be part of the beginning with Dr. Steven Bickmore many moons ago at Louisiana State University. I attended two years of the conference as a siesta from my National Writing Project/University Professor work - a vacation of sorts. This, however, turned into a trajectory of how YA Literature can be a catalyst for incredible student writing. Hence, my career since. 

It was wonderful to hear E. Lockhart speak again (with apologies for putting a question into the chat - which was out of humor). I also enjoyed hearing from Sophia Sargiandies's team and their deep dive in class issues...an area that has always been in the back of my mind (from Shaw's Pygmalion, to Hinton's The Outsiders, to Gartreaus' Welding with Children, to what I see and experience each and every day).

My student team - three dynamic young woman who blew my mind with their end-of-the-semester projects last Fall - are on deck for 9 a.m. this morning. It is always wonderful to highlight the next generation of teacher-leaders who will step out of their pedagogical role to show themselves as research-practitioners. 

Next week is the last week before Spring Break. I am very ready for the break and want to wrap up the crazy of what has already happened this semester to be packaged at the side for a while. I am thrilled, though, to be THANKING GOD IT IS FRIDAY in the company of so many brilliant people. I'm looking at the piles of YA texts all over my house and noting, "Yup...these are my kind of people."