Gulf Coast Conference on the Teaching of Writing

Mrs. Nikkesha Hooks 

Mrs. Nikkesha Hooks is a distinguished Education Administrator with the Alabama

State Department of Education (ALSDE), where she serves within the Educational

Technology section. In her current capacity, Mrs. Hooks acts as the State Project

Director for Alabama Technology in Motion (ATiM), a statewide initiative dedicated to

providing on-site, job-embedded professional development to teachers to enhance

technology integration in the classroom.

Presentation Title: Authentic Writing in the AI ERA: Practical Moves for K –

Classrooms

Dr. Charisse Snell 
     

With 28 years of experience as an educator, Dr. Snell served as a classroom teacher

for 13 years and a technology teacher for 10 years prior to becoming an ATiM

specialist. She has presented at internationally recognized educational technology

conferences, including ISTE and FETC, and she considers it a privilege to help

educators integrate technology effectively throughout the curriculum.

Presentation Title: Authentic Writing in the AI ERA: Practical Moves for K –

Classrooms

Charissa Lambert

Charissa Lambert has served in public education for twenty-one years as a Secondary

English Teacher, Instructional Partner, and currently as a Literacy Specialist in the

Office of School Improvement for ALSDE. Supporting schools in the Governor's

Turnaround School Initiative and teachers and schools in all eleven regions has

proven to be highly rewarding as Charissa prides herself as a teacher advocate and

champion for students. This passion for all things literacy in her professional life is also

evident in her personal life as she is an avid reader and writer.

Presentation Title: Unwrapping the Gift of Writing

M. Colleen Cruz

M. Colleen Cruz is an educator, independent consultant, and author committed to

making rich literacy education accessible. She brings her student-centered, research-

driven work to schools, districts, organizations and teacher education programs both

nationally and internationally through demonstration, co-teaching, workshops and

speaking engagements. Her popular books include The Unstoppable Writing Teacher,

the Writers Read Better series, and Border Crossing, a Tomás Rivera Mexican-

American Children's Books Finalist, with her latest Neurodiversity in the Literacy

Classroom: The General Educator's Guide to IEPs, Dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, and

More available Spring, 2026 from Corwin Press.