Speakers
Opening Speaker: Dr. Tonya Perry
Dr. Perry holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Leadership with a concentration in English and secondary curriculum from both the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a Master of Arts in English Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her research in secondary schools is primarily focused on supporting marginalized populations, particularly in the areas of writing, urban and rural education, and teacher preparation. She is most interested in the ways in which we prepare middle and high school students and their teachers to meet the demands of the 21st century and beyond. Her work has been published in English Journal, Voices from the Middle, Theory Into Practice, and other journals, handbooks, and books. She continues to serve, research and work directly with teachers, students, and families to promote equitable literacy practices through programs and events, such as Family Write Nights, Writing with the Stars, When Teachers Write group, and the Community Writes programs.
Dr. Tonya Perry is currently Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Miles College and has been in the role since January 2024. Prior, she was a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition, she serves as President of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). She is a tireless advocate for students and educators who are often denied a voice. She works with and for educators, students, and communities to develop programs and initiatives that uplift historically marginalized peoples.
Perry has also served the nation as a 2000 National Teacher of the Year finalist and a two-time National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT). She has worked as a middle school teacher, teacher educator, full professor, executive director and principal investigator for a large GEAR UP grant, director of the Red Mountain Writing Project, and both interim department chair and executive director for outreach and engagement for a School of Education.
Keynote Speaker: Author, Tami Charles
Tami Charles is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter and numerous books for children and young adults.
An undergraduate of Saint Elizabeth University, Tami received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University and thereafter became certified in principalship for the states of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Tami pursued her doctoral studies in Educational Leadership at Walden University, where she reached ABD status. For fourteen years, Tami served as a classroom teacher before following her childhood dream of becoming an author.
This would not have happened without the encouragement of her students. During her tenure, Tami and her fifth grade students explored a wide array of diverse middle grade novels and picture books. Doing so inspired Tami and her students to write their own short stories and plays, with some performed for the school and community at-large.
Publishing in 2018, Like Vanessa was Tami’s debut middle grade novel. It went on to earn Top 10 spots on the Indies Introduce and Spring Kids’ Next lists, three starred reviews, and a Junior Library Guild selection. Since then, she has published such titles as Definitely Daphne, Fearless Mary, Serena the GOAT, and Becoming Beatriz to name a few.
Her latest titles include YA novel-in-verse, Muted, which was a Buzzfeed Top 40 pick, and lyrical picture book, My Day with the Panye, which received a starred review from School Library Journal.
Tami’s work has been spotlighted in such outlets as Essence Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. When she isn’t writing, Tami can be found presenting at schools both stateside and abroad. As a former educator, Tami understands the true power of teaching. It extends beyond lesson plans, data collection, and testing. Teachers are in a unique position to empower students and cultivate the next generation of writers and thought-leaders.