Learn more about our award-winning teachers who presented the virtual sessions.
Anne Ruggles Gere is a professor at the University of Michigan. When she wasat the University of Washington, she founded and directed the Puget Sound Writing Program, where she directed an NEH-sponsored program on writing across the curriculum, from which Roots in the Sawdust: Writing to Learn Across the Disciplines (NCTE 1985) emerged. She has co-authored several books including Writing on Demand: Best Practices and Strategies For Success, and Taking Initiative on Writing: A Guide for Instructional Leaders.
Anne is editor of the Common Core book series and presented a session within the Grades 6-8 Conference.
Susi Long is a faculty member in Language & Literacy and Early Childhood Education at the University of South Carolina. Since 1999, she has worked with cohorts of literacy coaches in the South Carolina Reading Initiative (SCRI). Her publications focus on early literacy, learning in culturally and linguistically diverse schools and communities, and teacher study groups. Her book, Tensions and Triumphs, discusses the results of a seven-year research study identifying the challenges new teachers face and how all concerned can help keep new teachers in the profession. Susi is part of the NCTE Consulting Network and is past assistant chair of the NCTE Elementary Section Steering Committee.
Susi presented sessions in the Grades K-2 Conference.
Tonya Perry is currently an assistant professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department in the School of Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Also, she is currently the director and principal investigator for the Red Mountain Writing Project. She has written articles for several journals including English Journal and Voices from the Middle. Tonya is past NCTE middle representative-at-large and CEE Executive Board member. Tonya was also a national finalist for Teacher of the Year in 2000.
Tonya presented sessions in the Grades 6-8 Conference.
Sarah Brown Wessling is a high school English teacher at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. She was the recipient of the 2010 National Teacher of the Year Award.
Sarah presented the K-12 keynote and session four in the Grades 9-12 Conference.
Jeffrey Williams is currently a K-12 literacy teacher leader/coach with Solon City Schools in Ohio. Jeff has written and collaborated on articles for The Reading Teacher, Journal of Adolescent Literacy and Educational Leadership. Jeff is the assistant chair of the NCTE Elementary Section Steering Committee, serves on the NCTE Executive Committee and is 2011 chair of the Governance Subcommittee.
Jeff presented sessions in the Grades 3-5 Conference.