National Institute 2026

National Institute 2026

Beth Bevars

Teach My Kid to Read

Executive Director, Programming

6:00pm EDT

Opening General Dinner Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-G

7:00pm EDT

Opening Keynote with Angie Thomas Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-GAngie Thomas • HarperCollins Publishers

8:30am EDT

Friday Big Ideas: Creating Reading Rainbow Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DBarbara Irwin • Tony Buttino • Pamela Johnson • West Herr Auto Group

10:15am EDT

The Role of Therapy Dogs in Public Libraries and Their Supportive Role in Literacy Initiatives Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FDan Caufield • Brigette Atlas-Callahan • Sarah McLean-Plunkett

12:45pm EDT

Libraries Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline Embassy Suites Buffalo | EncoreCarrie Banks

2:15pm EDT

Examining Early Literacy Spaces: Are We on the Right Track? Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GKim Bolan • Erin Jennings, IIDA, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB

8:30am EDT

Saturday Big Ideas: Dive Deep Into Discovery - Celebrating Children's Nonfiction Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DMarc Aronson • Lesa Cline-Ransome • Candace Fleming • Scholastic, Inc. • Candlewick | Holiday House | Peachtree • Macmillan Children's Publishing

3:30pm EDT

Saturday Closing Session: Playful Picture Books featuring Kari Lavelle, Deborah Marcero, and Rhode Montijo Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DDerek Ivie Reed • Rhode Montijo • Kari Lavelle • Deborah Marcero • Sourcebooks • Little, Brown Books for Young Readers • Penguin Young Readers

4:30pm EDT

Book Signing: Kari Lavelle, Rhode Montijo, Deborah Marcero Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency BallroomDeborah Marcero • Kari Lavelle • Rhode Montijo