Annual SCCTE Conference

Katie Wood Ray, writer and researcher, is the author of Already Ready (2008), Study Drive (2007), About the Authors (2005) and What You Know By Heart (2002). Katie is also the author or coauthor of Spelling in Use (1996), Wondrous Words (1999), and The Writing Workshop (2001). Katie, now a full time writer and researcher of the teaching of writing, leads teacher workshops and summer institutes across the nation with a particular focus on the study of writing craft. Her professional background includes elementary, middle school, and university teach-ing experience. She was also the coeditor of the journal Primary Voices K-6, a publication of the NCTE.

Sharon Draper, novelist, is a professional educator as well as an accomplished writer. She has been honored as the National Teacher of the Year, is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award, and is a New York Times best-selling author. Some of her latest novels are Copper Sun, Fire from the Rock, November Blues, and Tears of a Tiger. She has also written a book for teachers, Teaching from the Heart. www.sharondraper.com

William Kist, teacher and researcher, is an associate professor at Kent State University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on adolescent literacy. He has been a middle school and high school English teacher; a Language Arts and Social Studies curriculum coordinator; and a consultant and trainer for school districts across the United States. Kist has over 30 national and international conference presentations and 10 published articles to his credit, including his book New Literacies in Action: Teaching and Learning in Multiple Media (2005, Teachers College Press). In addition to his work in education, Kist has worked as a video/film producer and musician. Kist is editing one independent feature film, Summer’s Journey, and is developing his original screenplay, Field Trip, to be filmed as an independent feature in 2008. www.williamkist.com