UPCOMING 2026 EVENTS

Loud & Clear: Elevating Literacy Through Classroom Discourse

Philadelphia Literacy Educators — You’re Invited!

Saturday, November 7, 2026
9:30 AM–12:00 PM | Via Zoom

How can purposeful classroom discourse help students move beyond participation to deeper comprehension and learning?

Join us for the 8th Annual Helen Oakes Literacy Institute for an engaging morning focused on the power of student talk.

Together with fellow Philadelphia educators, we’ll explore how structured opportunities to think, talk, listen, question, explain, and use evidence can strengthen students’ comprehension, vocabulary, literacy, and content learning.

Designed for elementary and secondary educators, this interactive session will provide practical strategies you can adapt across classrooms and content areas.

You’ll explore strategies to:

• Use purposeful discussion to deepen comprehension and critical thinking
• Build vocabulary and academic language through student talk
• Connect close reading, evidence, discussion, and writing
• Increase meaningful and equitable participation
• Support multilingual learners and students with disabilities while maintaining rigor

You’ll leave with:

• A Classroom Discourse Toolkit filled with resources you can use right away
• Practical strategies and ideas to bring back to your classroom
• Time to learn and connect with fellow Philadelphia educators
• 2.5 Act 48 credits
• A chance to win raffle prizes!

Grab a hot cup of coffee or tea, find a comfortable spot, and join us for a morning of practical learning, conversation, and connection.

Register Today!!

PAST EVENTS

7th Annual Helen Oakes Literacy Institute

Thank you for joining us for our 7th Annual Helen Oakes Literacy Institute! We dove deep into Artful Thinking in the ELA Classroom and how the integration of art can generate excitement for text, build background knowledge, and serve as scaffolds for students as they become stronger readers, thinkers, and writers. In case you missed it or would like to revisit the session, you can watch the recording here on our YouTube channel.

Special Thanks to Our Keynote and Featured Speakers! We were joined by Award-Winning Children’s Author, Connie Collins Morgan! Author of The Runaway Beignet, Hercules on the Bayou, and The Cajun Fisherman and His Wife, Connie Collins Morgan is a former Maryland public school teacher with over 25 years of classroom experience and an MFA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University. A Lafayette, Louisiana native, her Cajun roots inspire stories that have earned national recognition, including Amazon and Pelican Publishing best-seller lists.

Toni O’Karma – Director of Curriculum + Instruction – ELA

Antoine O’Karma (Toni) has been employed in the School District of Philadelphia for the past 30 years, where she currently serves as a Director of ELA in the Office of Curriculum & Instruction. She is both CERI and Wilson certified and is a Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist.

Christy Chang – 6-8 Curriculum Specialist – ELA

Christy Chang is an ELA Curriculum Specialist with the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at The School District of Philadelphia. Previously, she was a K-8 ELA school-based academic coach at the district and also taught 6-8 ELA and Humanities in the Greater Philadelphia area. 

Lisa M. Hannum – School-Based Academic Coach – ELA

Lisa M. Hannum is a dedicated educator and leader with over 15 years of experience in the School District of Philadelphia. Holding a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Holy Family University and a Master’s in Education with Reading Specialist Certification, Lisa has excelled in roles ranging from a teacher, Literacy Lead, and School-Based Teacher Leader. She is currently a School-Based Academic Coach for English Language Arts at Gloria Casarez Elementary.

Mary Joe Frasso – School-Based Academic Coach – ELA

Mary Joe Frasso is a dedicated educator with 35 years of experience, all in service to students within the Philadelphia School District. Throughout her career, she has taken on various roles, including classroom teacher, literacy specialist, academic coach, and literacy lead, always focused on fostering student success. In addition to her work in K-12 education, Mary Joe shares her expertise as an adjunct professor and student teacher supervisor at Holy Family University, helping to shape the next generation of educators.

Watch the Recording

Access the Resources

6th Annual Helen Oakes Literacy Institute

5th Annual Helen Oakes Literacy Institute

On Saturday, November 4th, 2023, we shared two thought-provoking workshops by leading voices in literacy from the School District of Philadelphia, and a very special keynote presentation from Nyshawana Francis-Thompson Ed.D, Chief of Curriculum and Instruction.

Weren’t able to join us live? Check out the links below for a recording and resources from the event.

Who was Helen Oakes?

As a civic activist and former Philadelphia school board member, Helen Oakes was passionate about the students and teachers of Philadelphia. For nineteen years, her newsletter framed the conversation around teaching and learning in schools throughout the city. The Helen Oakes Literacy Institute, founded to honor her legacy, provides a space for Philadelphia teachers to continue the conversation around literacy and education. 

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The OAKES Newsletter Archive

From 1970 to 1989, Helen Oakes researched, wrote, and published the OAKES newsletter. Her “Independent Monthly Dedicated To Improving Public Education” was groundbreaking in making previously unpublished data accessible. For the first time in history, digital versions of her newsletters are now available to reference online.