TCTELA - Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts

10/15/2026

TCTELA Board Nominations are now open!

We’re seeking nominations for:
• Recording Secretary
• Vice-President Elect
• President-Elect

Help shape the future of TCTELA and serve alongside educators committed to literacy, leadership, and community across Texas.

Nominations close on November 1.

Email [email protected] for more information.

We need you!

10/15/2026

Talk is where learning begins.

Join us for the next session of TCTELA’s PD2Teach Language and Literacy Series, Oracy Practices for ALL Classrooms, featuring Emelia Ahmed, education consultant and doctoral student at Texas Woman’s University.

Emelia will share an oracy framework and practical dialogic strategies that strengthen every student’s speaking and listening, especially emergent bilingual students learning English and learning in English. You’ll leave with ideas you can put to work in your classroom the very next day. Session details are as follows:

Thursday, October 22, 2026
4:00–5:00 p.m. CT
Live via Zoom

Email [email protected] for registration link.

10/15/2026

What if professional development actually gave teachers something they could use tomorrow?

That’s the kind of learning Tosh McGaughy believes educators deserve.

In the newest episode of Wonder & Words, Tosh talks about the difference between simply training teachers and creating professional learning that actually helps them grow.

The kind where educators have time to think, talk, question, collaborate, and apply what they’re learning — not just sit and listen.

She also digs into what surprised her in the 2026 STAAR data, how TEKS and assessment data can support stronger instructional decisions, and why teachers’ time together is too valuable to waste.

Watch the conversation on YouTube by searching for
2026 STAAR Data - What Texas ELA Teachers Need to Know Tosh McGaughy.

And if this sounds like the kind of PD you’ve been wishing for, Tosh will lead a Friday General Session at the 62nd Annual TCTELA Conference & Exposition:

Come connect, learn, and leave with practical ideas you can actually carry back to your classroom.

10/14/2026

Attention ELA Educators: Help us plan Section Meetings that work for YOU!

You don't need to be a TCTELA member to share your thoughts! Whether you’ve attended our meetings before, wanted to attend but couldn’t, or are considering getting involved for the first time, we want your feedback.

Please take 3–5 minutes to share your input on the ideal meeting times, formats, and topics for the upcoming year:

Email [email protected] for the survey.

Survey closes Wednesday, Nov 11th at 11:59 PM CST.

Thank you for helping us create a supportive, connected, and accessible space for all Texas literacy educators! ❤️

10/08/2026

The TCTELA Preservice Teacher Grant offers PSTs the chance to attend the conference by covering registration and a shared sleeping room in exchange for volunteering for the conference.

10/08/2026

Ready to elevate your impact across Texas? TCTELA is seeking a Digital Coordinator to join our leadership board!

If you are passionate about literacy education, digital storytelling, and online engagement, this is your opportunity to help manage our digital presence and amplify the incredible work of Texas ELA educators statewide.

📌 Important Details:

3-year board position

MUST BE A MEMBER TO APPLY. (Not a member yet? Join today and submit your application!)

Application deadline: November 6th.

10/07/2026

Register to experience the wonder at the 62nd Annual TCTELA Conference and book your sleeping room in our group block at Embassy Suites by November 4 to be entered into a drawing for a 2-night getaway! Registration and hotel links are available on our conference web page.

*Winner will receive a certificate for a free 2-night stay in a standard two room suite at Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center. Advance registration required. May not be combined with group event or other offers. Other exclusions may apply. Based on hotel availability. Not redeemable for cash. Certificate expires 6/12/27. TCTELA board members, committee chairs, Rising Leaders, and Dream Cohort members are excluded from drawing.

10/07/2026

ELAR + ELPS = Powerful Connections!

Join us for the next session in the PD2Teach Language and Literacy Series, featuring Dr. Stephen Winton, Assistant Professor at the University of Houston-Downtown and past TCTELA president.

Explore practical examples of how the English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) connect with the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), adopted in 2024. Participants will examine examples of aligned instruction and discuss ways to bring these connections into their own classrooms.

October 14, 2026, Wednesday
6–7 PM
Virtual via Zoom

Register here: https://tctela.configio.com/pd/200/elar-and-the-elps-adopted-2024

10/02/2026

As we shift into fall, it is time to say "YES" to saying "NO." The demands on educators' time grow during the first months of the year. To maximize our effectiveness, we must clarify our priorities and protect space for the work that impacts learners the most. Invest an hour in October and save time all year long!

Join us on Saturday, October 17th at 9 AM.
Learn more here: https://www.tctela.org/section-meetings

09/30/2026

What if the standards were never meant to be the ceiling?

Dr. Towanda Harris has a powerful reminder for educators:

“The standards are the floor. They are not the ceiling.”

In this episode of Wonder & Words, Dr. Harris talks about what happens when we move beyond simply getting students to comply—and start creating classrooms where students can think, question, connect, and take ownership of their learning.

She also gets real about:

📚 Student agency
💡 Curiosity and critical thinking
🤖 AI in the classroom
❤️ The “heart work” of teaching
👂 Helping students feel seen, valued, and heard
🌱 Creating learning experiences that go beyond the test

And perhaps most importantly, she reminds educators that you don't have to do this work alone.

Sometimes you need to find your people.

🎥 Watch the full conversation with Dr. Towanda Harris:
👉 https://youtu.be/v5VIHs_sIgg?si=hFETDbt7NPqAR63t

And if you're ready to find more ideas, more connections, and more educators who understand the work, learn more about the TCTELA Annual Conference and registration:

👉 www.tctela.org

Fresh ideas. Fresh energy. And your people.

Are we teaching students to simply comply… or helping them become t...