Plain Talk About Literacy & Learning®
Pre-Conference Day
Presenters Bios & Session Descriptions
Presenters
DeJunné Clark Jackson
bio coming soon!
Family Engagement Lab
bio coming soon!
Linda Farrell
bio coming soon!
Rachel Giannini
Rachel has over 15 years of hands-on early childhood classroom experience. She has a B.A. in Early childhood and American Sign Language from Columbia College Chicago and an MFA in Museum Education from the University of Illinois Chicago. In addition to her own classroom experience, Rachel works with multiple school districts on implementing progressive curricula.
Rachel Giannini is a childhood specialist, an early childhood advocate, and a video blog host. She currently splits her time as a public speaker, early childhood commentator, curriculum designer, and the star of Spy School on Hellosaurus.
Rachel’s writing, expertise, and videos have appeared in Vox, The New York Times, Manhattan Toy Company, Sago Mini, Too Small To Fail, HuffPost, Child Care Exchange, and Chicago Parent. In addition, Rachel is a volunteer hospital magician for Open Heart Magic and a new mom to baby Lydia.
Lucy Hart Paulson
bio coming soon!
Emmy O’Dwyer
Emmy O’Dwyer is a nationally recognized leader and advocate with expertise in early childhood education, organizational development, and strategic planning. Her work as an executive director, educator, and consultant have given her a broad base of experience with far-ranging projects, from steering committees and training, to on-the-ground change leadership in programs. As a systems thinker, she identifies high-leverage priorities in close collaboration with leaders and charts a path to growth and change. Emily’s work is focused on advancing equity and access to children, youth, and their families.
Carolyn Strom
Dr. Carolyn Strom is a classroom researcher, clinical professor, and reading specialist whose work focuses on improving early literacy and language outcomes for young children. Specifically, her work centers on bridging the divides between classroom practice, neuroscientific research, instructional media, and caregivers. She collaborates widely with teachers, school districts, and instructional designers. Currently, she is leading an initiative for New York City preschool teachers in Head Start called ‘Cortex in the Classroom,’ which centers on the practical application of reading science and learning technologies. Dr. Strom teaches and leads the literacy program at NYU Steinhardt, where her courses focus on how to implement scientific knowledge into everyday classroom practice and how to analyze classroom-level data. She spent the first decade of her career as a first-grade teacher and reading specialist in public schools.
Iantha Ussin
bio coming soon!
Plain Talk Pre-Conference Day Schedule
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am Registration and Name Badge Pick up |
| 9:00 am – 10:20 am Breakout Sessions I |
| 10:20 am – 10:45 am Break |
| 10:45 am – 12:05 pm Breakout Sessions II |
| 12:05 pm – 1:35 pm Lunch on your own – List of suggestions coming soon! |
| 1:35 pm – 2:55 pm Breakout Sessions III |
“Plain Talk sets the benchmark each year as the premier meeting about reading and related educational issues. If you can only attend one meeting each year this must be the one.”
– SAM GOLDSTEIN, PH.D.
“Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning is my favorite conference, both to present at and to attend. The expertise and passion of attendees and presenters alike always give me a high. I leave the conference with my brain full, revitalized in purpose and confidence that we can teach all children to read.”
– Michael Hunter