Gulf Coast Conference on the Teaching of Writing

Keynote Speakers

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Dr. Dee Bennett, Monica Anderson Young & SHORT the Squirrel

Dr. Dee Bennett and Monica Anderson Young are described as creative and passionate individuals with a knack for storytelling and innovation, as well as dynamic thinkers and problem-solvers. The duo are the creators of the Alabama-based nonprofit reading initiative SHORT the Squirrel. SHORT the Squirrel is now Alabama's official literacy mascot.

Keynote Speaker

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

For the last 25 years, Barry Lane has worked in schools with teachers on professional development in writing and reading in all 50 states and many countries around the world, including Canada, Romania, France, England, Germany, Holland, and India. 

Some of his most popular books include After THE END: Teaching and Learning Creative Revisions, Revisers Toolbox, and But How Do We Teach Writing.

His workshops teach teachers how to create classes of lifelong writers and readers.  

Keynote Speaker

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Andy Schoenborn is an award-winning author and high school English teacher in Michigan at Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. His main objective is teaching and facilitating literacy using progressive methods that focus on student-critical thinking, digital collaboration, and multimedia means. As the Vice President for the Michigan Council of Teachers of English, he regularly meets with leaders across the state to promote literacy in Michigan. 

Reviewers of his latest book, Creating Confident Writers, co-authored with Dr. Troy Hicks, remarked, “The authors provide a broad perspective on what it means to be a young writer and how to teach them.”