A Day of Inspiration and Learning: Reflections on the Spring HBIDA Online Conference

by Board Member and Conference Chair, Jenny Cantrell

As the conference chair of the Houston Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (HBIDA), I had the honor of planning and hosting our annual virtual Spring Conference on Saturday, March 29, 2025. It was a remarkable day attended by many educators and dyslexia therapists and interventionists gathered virtually for an invigorating morning of professional growth and connection. Some were attending outside of Houston from Austin and Galveston, Texas.

Our day began with Dr. Sarah Powell, who delivered a powerful session titled "Structured Math." Her expertise educated us on how structured approaches to math instruction can build foundational skills, offering educators practical tools to empower their students. One participant shared with us, “the math tools and culturally relevant materials for students” was her biggest takeaway from Dr. Powell’s session.

Next, Nathaniel Hansford took the stage with his compelling presentation, "Structured Literacy vs. Whole Language." He unpacked the key differences between these approaches, reinforcing the value of evidence-based literacy instruction—a topic close to the heart of our HBIDA mission. Nathaniel gave us an eye opening remark by saying, “Balanced Literacy is a rebrand of Whole Language.”

Following Nathaniel, Eileen Catizone captivated us with her session, "Dyslexia Assessment." Her deep dive into identifying and supporting students with dyslexia left attendees equipped with actionable strategies and renewed confidence in their assessment practices. One participant was excited to share, “Sorting students into quadrants based on assessments by high/low word reading and high/low language comprehension is something we will implement immediately!”

Finally, Sal Flores and Jenny Gomez-Smith closed out the conference with "Enhancing Oral Language Development Through a Dyslexia and Emergent Bilingual Lens." Their engaging talk explored how oral language development intersects with dyslexia and bilingual literacy, resonating deeply with our audience of mostly educators working with diverse learners. One participant commented, “ I loved the connection with Scarborough's reading rope and the simple view of reading, the research, and the bilingual presentation.”

The energy throughout the day uplifted us on a Saturday to remind us of all of the important work we do each day. We, HBIDA, are proud to create opportunities like this as part of our mission to promote literacy across Houston and its surrounding communities. As a part of the International Dyslexia Association, we are a volunteer-driven organization, led by a team of elected board members and supported by an advisory council who all serve on a variety of committees to support our mission. Our team includes local educators, parents, diagnosticians, dyslexia therapists, advocates, and others—all united in our commitment to making a lasting impact. 

The virtual Spring Conference was a success, and I’m grateful to our speakers, attendees, and volunteers for making it such a memorable day. I’m already looking forward to our next gathering: HBIDA’s annual Fall Symposium on September 20, 2025, at University of St. Thomas. We’ll be joined by Dr. Sarah Powell from The University of Texas and Susan Lambert from The Science of Reading Podcast—two incredible voices sure to inspire us once again. Here’s to more days of learning and growth ahead!