Hilderbrand Pelzer III

The Weight of Our Calling: Balancing Urgency, Empowerment, and the Connection Between Literacy and Incarceration

How does literacy shape a child’s future? What role does reading instruction play in addressing—or perpetuating—the school-to-prison pipeline? In this compelling keynote, Hilderbrand Pelzer III invites educators to confront these important questions and equips them with the tools and inspiration to make meaningful change in their classrooms for students. The connection between literacy and incarceration is clear: students who can’t read can’t thrive. Lack of literacy leads to frustration, poor decision-making, and, ultimately, the pathways that lead to delinquency and incarceration. This keynote will explore the pivotal role literacy plays in empowering students to build strong thinking skills, make better choices—even in times of conflict—and achieve success in school and life. Pelzer will challenge the audience to embrace a sense of urgency to examine their instructional practices through the lens of equity and the science of reading. Together, the audience will reimagine what it means to teach reading: inspiring a love of learning and a commitment to leveling up literacy practices in schools across the country. The keynote will also emphasize creating classroom environments where children feel supported and empowered and where they can gain the confidence to overcome their challenges and embrace opportunities. This keynote is more than a call to action—it’s a call to transformation. Come prepared to reflect, to act, and to lead a literacy revolution that changes lives and rewrites futures.