Love and Literacy
This summer, your favorite St. Louis area professional learning organizations are joining forces to host Love & Literacy: a conference for educators in grades K-16 on July 14th - 15th, 2026.
ConnectED Learning, Gateway Writing Project, the Language Arts Regional Consortium, and the Missouri Literacy Association invite you to join us in celebrating our local love and expertise of literacy!
Schedule
July 14th, 2026
7:30 - 8:30 Registration & Check-In
8:30 - 10:00 Welcome & Keynote
10:15 - 11:30 Break-Out Session A
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch (provided w/ registration)
12:15 - 1:30 Break-Out Session B
1:45 - 3:00 Break-Out Session C
3:10 - 3:30 Closing, Celebration, & Evaluation
July 15th, 2026
7:30 - 8:30 Registration & Check-In
8:30 - 10:00 Welcome & Keynote
10:15 - 11:30 Break-Out Session D
11:30 - 12:15 Lunch (provided w/ registration)
12:15 - 1:30 Break-Out Session E
1:45 - 3:00 Break-Out Session F
3:10 - 3:30 Closing, Celebration, & Evaluation
Keynote Speakers
Melanie Meehan
Melanie’s professional life is based on her passionate belief that every child can write. Melanie recently retired from her position as the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator, and she opened The Writing Clinic, an in-person and online center for inspiring and nurturing competent, confident, and joyful young writers.
Melanie’s published works include Every Child Can Write (2019), The Responsive Writing Teacher (2021), and Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing (2022), all published by Corwin Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Maggie Beattie Roberts, Foundational Skills of Written Expression, will be published in February 2026.
Melanie is also a co-author of Two Writing Teachers, a blog dedicated to the teaching of writing, and she co-founded and co-hosts its companion podcast. Melanie is always happy to talk about anything writing-related, and you can connect with her on her website, MelanieMeehan.com
Chris Rappleye
Chris Rappleye is the co-author (along with Tracey Tokuhama Espinosa and Jovi R.S. Nazareno) of Writing, Thinking and the Brain: How Neuroscience Can Improve Writing Instruction (2024, Teachers College Press). He has taught English at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School since January of 1989, primarily in the Upper School, and has coached cross country and track and field for almost as long. He has consulted and presented for the ACT as well as for the College Board's Advanced Placement program in English Literature.
Chris presently holds the Ethan A. H. Shepley '41 Chair of Distinguished Teaching in English and Composition and is the past recipient of the Eleanor Church Johnson Chair of Distinguished Teaching in English. He regularly presents to teachers about research on the brain and social-emotional learning. As an advisor to students in the Upper School and a mentor to fellow teachers, he builds relationships and ensures the growth of his school community. In addition to teaching 9th and 12th grade-levels in English currently, he has also taught AP English Literature & Composition, and designed and taught courses on Creative Writing, Graphic Novels, The Faust Tradition, Creativity, Myth, Math & Music (co-taught), and Bookmaking (co-taught).
He holds an M.F.A. in Writing, and for the past several years, he has pursued an interests in Mind, Brain and Education Science research, Creativity, and Social and Emotional Learning.
Become a Sponsor!
We are excited to invite you to be a part of the 3rd annual "Love & Literacy” Conference, where K-16 educators, administrators, and curriculum coordinators come together to learn the latest strategies and curriculum to enhance their teaching skills. We have several sponsorship levels available, each with unique benefits, click to learn more!
Planning Team
Sarah Valter, Lindbergh School District
Julie Pair, Clayton School District
Tracy Bosch, UMSL
Diana Hammond, UMSL
Chris McGee, Maplewood Richmond Heights School District