The annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference was attended by 1,600 educators, administrators and district leaders. Hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education, the conference showcased Kentucky’s growing literacy infrastructure, including the Kentucky Early Literacy Leadership Network, the statewide literacy coaching model and the ongoing impact of the Kentucky Reading Academies LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning. Photo by Myles Young, Kentucky Department of Education, June 9, 2026.
The third-annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference experienced huge success this year, with 1,600 educators, administrators and district leaders in attendance.
Hosted by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) at the Galt House in Louisville on June 8-9, the conference featured 73 breakout sessions designed to support classroom teachers, interventionists, instructional coaches, principals and district leaders. In previous years, the conference took place on one day, but it expanded this year to be a day and a half.
Breakout sessions focused on evidence-based reading instruction, high-quality instructional resource implementation, instructional coherence, literacy coaching, leadership practices, intervention, assessment, professional learning communities and district implementation efforts.
Christie Biggerstaff, director of Early Literacy at KDE, said the conference showcased Kentucky’s growing literacy infrastructure, including the Kentucky Early Literacy Leadership Network, the statewide literacy coaching model and the ongoing impact of the Kentucky Reading Academies LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning. She said attendees left with concrete tools and strategies they can apply in their classrooms.
“One of the most powerful aspects of the conference was the opportunity for educators to learn directly from Kentucky practitioners,” Biggerstaff said. “Teachers, school leaders, district teams, state literacy coaches, state regional literacy directors, regional principal support leaders, partners and KDE Office of Teaching and Learning staff shared lessons learned, implementation successes and practical strategies from the field.”
Biggerstaff said one major highlight was the keynote address by Timothy Shanahan, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was founding director of the university’s Center for Literacy.
“(Shanahan) challenged educators to think differently about text complexity and the role of leveled readers in reading instruction,” Biggerstaff said. “His message reinforced Kentucky’s commitment to ensuring all students have access to grade-level texts and rigorous literacy experiences.”
Emily Hartman, a kindergarten teacher at Robert B. Turner Elementary School (Anderson County), attended the conference and said she believes it’s a good way for educators to learn new things each year.
“I think the sessions offered really can freshen your abilities when you’re re-entering the classroom each year and help you become more confident in teaching new skills and new innovative ways to reach all young learners at a young age,” Hartman said.
Biggerstaff said another standout feature of this year’s conference was the Unit Internalization Lab. During the lab, participants engaged in a hands-on learning experience to deepen their understanding of how high-quality instructional resources are intentionally built to develop student knowledge and skills over time.
“Educators examined the arc of a unit, analyzed how lessons connect to one another, identified the key understandings students are expected to develop and explored how daily instruction contributes to larger learning goals,” Biggerstaff said. “The experience strengthened participants’ understanding of instructional coherence and demonstrated how curriculum-based professional learning helps teachers deliver high-quality instruction.”
Biggerstaff said one of the strongest takeaways from the conference was that it showed how Kentucky is building a literacy movement.
“Educators from every region of the state came together with a shared commitment to improving reading outcomes for students, and the energy, collaboration and enthusiasm throughout the event reflected that commitment,” Biggerstaff said.
The conference takes place each summer and is available for free to any Kentucky public educator. The conference is funded by Senate Bill 9 (2022), the Reads to Succeed Act.
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