Why Should YOU Join LLCN?

Literacy Leaders and Coaches Network is a premier educational community in West Michigan providing ongoing professional learning to connect leaders, enhance practice, and improve literacy.

What to Expect
The theme of the Literacy Leaders and Coaching Network this year will be “In what ways will we empower ALL learners?” We will be using LLCN this year to support professional learning to increase our capacity to empower all learners. We will have the opportunity to delve deeper into this topic through exploring and analyzing the research of these nationally known authors:

1. David Kilpatrick
2. Ellin Oliver Keene

3. Brené Brown

4. Releah Cossett Lent

You as the LLCN participant will get to choose one path of learning you would like to follow in LLCN.

Whichever path you select you will receive that speaker's book as the feature book for your LLCN experience:

1. Essentials of Assessing, Preventing, and Overcoming Reading Difficulties (Essentials of Psychological Assessment) By David Kilpatrick
2. Engaging Children: Igniting a Drive for Deeper Learning K-8 by Ellin Oliver Keene

3. Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

4. This is Disciplinary Literacy: Reading, Writing, Thinking, and Doing...Content Area by Content Area by Releah Cossett Lent

Based on your selection you will get the book of that author and then time in an LLCN session to delve deeper into the work of that author. However, the learning will not stop there, as an LLCN participant you will also be able to participate in an additional session of your choice during the LLCN day to learn additional strategies to empower all learners. We look forward to working with you to support your learning in truly empowering all learners you impact educationally.

CLICK HERE to learn more about LLCN

This year for LLCN there will be a 45-minute lunch time. Please consider bringing your own sack lunch or their will be options for purchase each day.

Mark Raffler; Craig Steenstra; Kirsten Rice; Katie Momber; Sarah Shoemaker; Christi Gilbert ; Diane Titche

Mark graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree for Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology.  He has served as an elementary teacher in Plainwell Community Schools, instructional technology specialist for Grand Rapids Public Schools, an Adjunct Professor for Western Michigan University, and most recently an Educational Consultant for the Kent Intermediate School District that specializes in English Language Arts, MTSS and Social Studies.

Craig Steenstra is an Educational Technology Consultant at Kent ISD. He provides training, coaching, development, and other forms of support relating to technology integration and leadership in education. Craig is a former ELA teacher with experience in curriculum development, and he has worked closely with all K-12 grade levels and subject areas. 

Diane Titche is an Early Literacy coach with Kent ISD whose work centers around supporting administrators, coaches, and teachers across Kent County. Diane provides professional development, training, and coaching in best practices in literacy teaching and learning. Prior to joining Kent ISD, Diane was an instructional coach at Lincoln Elementary School in Greenville, Michigan, and before that she taught fifth grade and third grade over thirteen years with Lowell Area Schools. Diane has also trained teachers in Thinking Maps and Write from the Beginning and Beyond.