Regional symposia focus primarily on adult literacy, and provide free professional development for volunteers and staff of nonprofit, community-based adult and family literacy programs.
Your local symposium is an excellent place to network with other literacy providers in your region, and a great source of professional development for volunteer and other instructors, as well as administrative staff.
QUICK LINKS FOR THE 2027 FAR WEST SYMPOSIUM:
Click on any of the links below to go straight to that section, or simply scroll down the page.
SAVE THE DATE!
BASIC DETAILS
The 2027 Far West Literacy Symposium will be a 2-day symposium, and will be held on:
Thursday, January 21, 2027
8:15 AM to 3:30 PM (MT)
AND
Friday, January 22, 2027
8:15 AM to 3:30 PM (MT)
[Name of Venue]
[Street Address]
Check-in for pre-registered participants will open at 8:15 AM, with the full program starting promptly at 8:30 AM.
This symposium is offered free of charge to Texas nonprofit professionals who work in the fields of adult and family literacy. See Symposium FAQs for more information.
SYMPOSIUM FAQs
Click on a question to see the answer.
Q: Hang on - "symposium"? Don't you mean "conference"?
A: Literacy Texas does have an annual conference! It’s held every summer.
Our regional symposia are a different type of event to the conference.
Each symposium:
- Takes place in a different Texas region to help minimize travel
- Has a local focus
- Is free to attend
- Generally takes place on one day (some symposia are 2 days)
- Includes workshops for both classroom instructors and program administrators
- Is the primary training Literacy Texas offers for literacy volunteers
- Offers 2.5 – 5.5 hours of professional development, sometimes more
Q: Who should attend this symposium?
A: Anyone interested in adult and family literacy in Texas is welcome at the symposium. The people who will gain the most are instructors at community-based adult literacy organizations and nonprofits.
Volunteer tutors and teachers are especially welcome!
When we create the symposium program, we use the broadest definition of “literacy”, to include all of Adult Foundational Education: adult basic education, English as an additional language, high school equivalency, digital literacy, and workforce readiness, along with other kinds of teaching and learning.
Q: I don't live in this region. Can I still attend?
A: YES! Anyone who lives in Texas is welcome at any Literacy Texas symposium.
Q: Why should I attend?
Two words: LOCAL + FREE!
Each symposium program includes both key topics of universal interest to adult literacy programs, and a focus on the local needs of the region. When you complete our Annual Survey every year, we use the results to invite speakers and presenters on topics you said you particularly wanted and needed.
Furthermore, registration is free. You won’t need a large budget for travel, and you shouldn’t need an overnight stay. We hope that many folks from the same organization can come to the symposium – there’s no limit on how many people can attend from one place. It’s a lot harder to send lots of people to conferences, since we know costs stack up pretty quickly.
Q: How much does registration cost?
A: The symposium is free to attend. Thanks to a generous grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, Literacy Texas can cover the costs of your tuition, any meals and snacks offered, materials, and other resources.
Please be aware that in recent years, between 10% and 25% of registrants are no-shows at our training events. Every one of these costs us money (since we’ve already paid for food, materials, and more).
If you’ve registered for a Literacy Texas event but then find you can no longer attend, PLEASE get in touch to cancel your registration.
Q: Do you offer PD credit?
A: Yes! Literacy Texas offers PD credit in conjunction with TCALL.
You must use the Literacy Texas app to scan in to all sessions if you want an official record of your professional development. We will send records via email to all app users in the weeks following the symposium.
EXHIBITORS
Information about exhibitors at this symposium is coming soon.
[List of exhibitors with links embedded in their names]
VENUE DETAILS
LOCATION, MAP, AND PARKING
This symposium will be held at [location]
Street address: [Full street address including Google maps link].
Map and parking information are coming soon.
VENUE FLOORPLAN
FREE ONLINE REGISTRATION
Registration will open soon – watch this space.
This session has reached capacity and we are forming a waitlist.
Use the registration button below to add your name to the list.
Registration for this session has now closed
REMINDER: CHECK YOUR SPAM
Every online registration will generate an automated email response with further information. If you don’t see it arrive, please check your junk mail!
Online registration has now closed – but we have a few spots available for last-minute registrants!
Call us at 972-926-3155 to make arrangements.
PD CERTIFICATES
Attendees can receive up to 11 hours of PD credit at this symposium.
You must use the Literacy Texas app to track your session attendance if you want to receive PD credit. Information about how to access and use the app will be sent to registrants ahead of the symposium.
Certificates of completion will be sent via email in the weeks after the event to anyone who tracked their sessions in the Literacy Texas app.
SCHEDULE OUTLINE
The schedule will be the same on both days, but the content will be different. Details for each day coming soon.
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM | Check-in for pre-registered attendees; breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:20 AM | Welcome & The Literacy Ecosystem (0.5 PD hours)
9:25 AM –10:55 AM | Breakout #1 (1.5 PD hours)
11:05 AM –12:35 PM | Breakout #2 (1.5 PD hours)
12:45 PM – 1:50 PM | Working Lunch + Panel Discussion (1 PD hour)
1:50 PM – 2:10 PM | “The 20-Minute Mission” – Meet the Exhibitors
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM | “Your Move” – Action Planning (1 PD hour)
3:20 PM – 3:30 PM | Farewell, door prizes
Total PD available each day: 5.5 hours
PROGRAM, SESSIONS, & SPEAKERS
PRESENTERS CONFIRMED SO FAR -
Program is in progress; details will be added here as they’re confirmed.
[if speakers are confirmed but sessions have not been scheduled:
copy template bio block here
unhide the title “presenters confirmed so far”
add speakers – COPY or MOVE bio blocks once schedule is formed, and change titles]
[if topics are known but schedule/program not yet set] Planned session topics include:
- xxx
- xxx
- xxx
- xxx
Schedule will be kept as current as possible but is subject to change; check back here for updates
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM: CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST
LOCATION: Pending
8:30 AM – 9:20 AM: WELCOME & THE LITERACY ECOSYSTEM
LOCATION: Pending
“Together for Literacy” – The Literacy Ecosystem
(0.25 hours PD)
In this opening segment, Literacy Texas introduces the literacy ecosystem: the many teachers and tutors, volunteers, community programs, libraries, adult education providers, workforce partners, and others who support adults along their learning journeys.
Every part of the ecosystem plays a valuable role – especially teachers, who are often closest to learners and among the first to recognize their needs.
Together, we’ll explore where each of us fits within this broader ecosystem and how a more connected literacy community can help us better serve learners.
Katie Welch, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Literacy Texas
Katie Welch, Ph.D., serves as Executive Director of Literacy Texas. Throughout her career, she has combined educational leadership with the preparation and support of language educators, including directing UTA’s intensive English program for international students and serving as president and treasurer of TexTESOL V. Katie brings nearly two decades of higher education experience preparing language educators at UTA and the UNT-Dallas and is a frequent state, national, and international speaker. She is a twice-selected U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist, the 2024 TexTESOLer of the Year, and a member of the 2026 COABE National Presenter Network.
“Regional Asset Mapping” – The Local Ecosystem
(0.25 hours PD)
Participants will help build a visual map of the organizations and resources serving adult learners across the region.
Using an asset-based approach, we’ll identify who’s in the room, discover resources and programs we may not know about, and begin building a clearer picture of our regional literacy network.
Name
Title, Org + link
Bio pending.
9:25 AM – 10:55 AM
Breakout #1
(1.5 hours PD)
LOCATION: Pending
Session title pending
Session description pending.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Name
Title, Org with link
Bio pending
11:05 AM – 12:35 PM
Breakout #2
(1.5 hours PD)
LOCATION: Pending
Session title pending
Session description pending.
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Name
Title, Org with link
Bio pending
12:45 PM – 1:50 PM: WORKING LUNCH
LOCATION: Pending
Panel Discussion
(1 hour PD)
“Connecting the Dots: Adult Literacy and Workforce Development in the [Region] Area”
“Employing the Whole Person: Building the Skills Employers Can’t Find”
“Teaching in the Age of AI: Workforce Skills for Tomorrow”
“Literacy, Business, and Economic Impact”
“What Do Employers Need from Providers? Connecting Literacy Programs and Employers”
“The Crucial Connection: The Evolving Needs of Today’s Employers”
Session description pending.
PANEL MODERATOR
Name
Title, Organization with URL
Bio pending.
PANELIST
Name
Title, Organization with URL
Bio pending.
PANELIST
Name
Title, Organization with URL
Bio pending.
Additional panelists pending.
1:50 PM – 2:10 PM: THE 20-MINUTE MISSION – MEET THE EXHIBITORS
LOCATION: Pending
Over 20 minutes, listen to exhibitor highlights and make notes on a card in three sections:
- One new idea;
- An interesting tool or resource you heard about; and
- An exhibitor to follow up with.
This activity functions very similarly to Exhibitor Lightning Rounds, which you may be familiar with if you’ve been to a Literacy Texas Conference in recent years.
2:20 PM – 3:20 PM
“Your Move” – Action Planning
(1 hour PD)
LOCATION: Pending
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
Name
Title, Org with link
Bio pending
3:20 PM – 3:30 PM: FAREWELL & DOOR PRIZES
LOCATION: Pending
SPARE – COPY IF NEEDED, OR DELETE
Primary Topic Area
Session will also cover:
Audience
Level
Texas AEL PD Category
Assigned by TCALL
Pending
Other info:
No other info available at this time.
DOWNLOADS
Download or print a flyer to display at your location or send to others who may be interested in attending the symposium.
Downloadable PDF flyer for this symposium is coming soon.
Download or print a copy of the symposium program.
Printable PDF copy of the symposium program is coming soon.
OUR THANKS TO SYMPOSIUM UNDERWRITERS –
SYMPOSIUM PARTNERS
SYMPOSIUM PATRONS
SYMPOSIUM SPONSORS
STAY IN THE KNOW -
Or get news directly from Literacy Texas:
Checked/updated: 8/5/2026
Thank you so much for your interest!
This event is now over.
