About 100 educators, educational supporters, and advocates convened in Henry County for a statewide literacy conference.

The Georgia Association of Literacy Advocates gathered at Creekside Christian Academy in Hampton in July 2026 for a one-day literacy summit, Literacy in Full: Science, Meaning and Voice. The event was the first of its kind in more than a decade for GALA, an organization of Georgia educators and supporters of literacy and equity.

“We wanted to take the science of research and show how it looks to practice it,” explains Dr. Andrea Carter-Robin, Conference Planning Committee Chair and board member for GALA. “They want to know what to do with all this research. So many times there’s an implementation problem, so we actually brought those lanes together, where research met classroom practice.”

The event included discussions from local government officials, GALA board members and Georgia Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Dr. April Aldridge.

“These people came into Henry County and were amazing,” says Stockbridge resident Carter-Robin. “We can learn from each other. Reading is bigger than a reading score; it’s about participation and community and life.”

Guests attended breakout sessions about engaging students, reading comprehension, picture books and graphic novels, vocabulary and writing, and multilingual learners, given by statewide educators and administrators, professors and authors.

“It was amazing because so many people were like-minded there,” explains Carter-Robin. “It was great to have them poured into because they’re always giving it out.”

Dana Smith, a literacy coach at the Utopian Academy for the Arts Charter School in Ellenwood, attended the summit to meet educators from various types of schools in Henry, Newton and other counties across the state, and even Tennessee, to share ideas to bring back to her school.

“I got ideas from doing a reading block and maximizing time and adjusting to new standards and using small group times,” recalls Smith, who said new standards were introduced in Georgia last year that school staff are still trying to grasp.

Guests also were able to network and attend a panel discussion on literacy leadership, as well as visit literacy vendors and exhibitors offering resources to enhance classrooms and schools.

Keldric Holmes, a third-grade teacher from Decatur and social media influencer who is popularly known as Mr. Holmes, was one of the panelists who discussed literacy leadership.

“Most people don’t realize it, but we’re having a literacy crisis,” explains Holmes, who moved to Georgia in 2025 from Mississippi. “I want to not only be known for creating funny videos on social media but to be an advocate for students and teachers as well. I want to be a voice for everyone and for things to be better.”

GALA plans to make this an annual event. More information is available on its website, www.galiteracy.org.

CONTACT DETAILS

Organization: Georgia Association of Literacy Advocates (GALA)
Website: www.galiteracy.org
Social: Georgia Association of Literacy Advocates (GALA) on Facebook

By Michelle Floyd