The Northwest Montana Reading Council
presents
The Back-to-School
Literacy Conference
August 17, 2022
Flathead High School
8:15am to 3:30pm
$40 Full Conference | Free with a Student ID
Bookworks in Whitefish will attend with books from the sessions and other educational resources for sale.
Featuring
Mike Anderson
Keynote Address
time 8:30-10:20am
Mike Anderson has one clear goal: to support engaging and joyful teaching and learning wherever he can. He is an award-winning teacher, author, and consultant who works with educators on topics such as choice-based differentiation, teaching social-emotional learning through daily academic work, balanced literacy, and effective teacher talk. He has presented at many national conferences, including Learning and the Brain, ASCD, and NCTE, and was a Responsive Classroom consultant, developer, and author.
Mike is the author of eight books, including What We Say and How We Say It Matter (ASCD 2019), Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn (ASCD 2016), and The First Six Weeks of School (CRS, 2015).
NEW THIS YEAR!Eliza Thomas is offering an optional Presenter Support Workshop to support those who will be presenting at the conference this year. The session will be three PIR credits and will offer tips for new and experienced presenters and time to put the presentation together. The session will be in room 112 at Flathead High on June 14 and is currently posted on PIR.Net, #10063. It will be an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with Eliza!

The Northwest Montana Reading Council is comprised of a group of current and retired Montana educators from the greater Kalispell Area, including Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Marion. As a collective, we believe in supporting educators through empowerment and teacher-supported professional development.
The council meets several times a year to plan and prepare for the annual conference. If you are interested in joining the council, we are always looking for more enthusiastic educators who love to volunteer their time to bring the best local literacy conference to Northwest Montana educators.
Co-Directors: Kelli Higgins and Leah Schvaneveldt
Treasurer: Megan Koppes
Secretary: Leslie DiMaio
Presenter Committee: Dani Burtsfield and Kim Wakefield
Conference Logistics: Sue Brown, Clayton Mauritzen, Betsy Kohnstamm, Aarica Phillips, Michele Paine, Sherri Nissen, and Joe Fisher
Calendar of Events
- April 23 – Zoom Virtual Meeting
- Fall Council Meeting: at Flathead High School – Room 112, 4:15-5:15pm

Awards
Each year at the conference, the council recognizes certain Educators, who have been nominated by their peers, as outstanding contributors to the growth and development of Northwest Montana Students and Teachers.
The following are the awards celebrated each year:
Educator of the Year
Administrator of the Year
Support Educator of the Year
Friend of Education
Contact the NWMT Reading Council
Co-Directors: Kelli Higgins and Leah Schvaneveldt
Treasurer: Megan Koppes
Secretary: Leslie DiMaio
Presenter Committee: Dani Burtsfield and Kim Wakefield
