The Big Sky Literacy Summit 2026
Activating Genius
August 27, 28, 29, & 30
Yellowstone Conference Center
Big Sky, Montana
Your whole world can change when you change who you listen to. Meet the Mentors, Leaders, and Teachers of 2026:
Ann Kaiser - Charles Hulme - Carol Tolman - Tiffany Hogan - Julie Washington - Hugh Catts - Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan - Timothy Odegard - Danielle 'Nell' Thompson - Terrie Noland - Julie VanDyke - Antonio Fierro - Lucy Hart Paulson - Theresa Owens - Linda Farrell - Michael Hunter - Craig Buscher - Justin Browning - Brittany Brewer - Judi Dodson
The Transformative Reading Teacher Group
Every person has a longing to be significant; to make a contribution; to be a part of something noble and purposeful. - John C. Maxwell
The 2021 - 2025 Summits have added unmeasurable value and instigated changes in human outcomes for over 2,000 educators, literacy leaders, intentional partners, and research scientists in 48 states and three countries. These Summits collectively planted seeds of change that resulted in unprecedented results at the personal, child, school, and district levels for many who attended, including these voices from the field - Louisa Moats, Hugh Catts, Dawn Brookhart, Margie Gillis, Tanner Butterfield, T'Shaka Bailey, Christine Trcka, Julie Dinan, and Theresa Owens . Let their wisdom remind you of the power of knowledge when it empowers change and come join us for the 2026 Summit experience.
Learn more about The Summit
Activating Genius!
The 6th Anniversary Big Sky Literacy Summit
Activating Genius
This theme intentionally carries us forward from Language is Everything (2025) into something deeper, the activation and disruption of thinking, systems, and the everyday routines we’ve come to accept as “just how it’s done.”
Activating genius is not about IQ scores. It is about tapping into the infinite potential within every child, every teacher, every leader and choosing to see the world through opportunity goggles instead of limitation lenses.
It is about surfacing what has been dormant. Elevating what has been overlooked. And courageously addressing the meaningful topics that, once uncovered, change the trajectory of the future.
Richard Rudd captures this beautifully:
“Genius describes you living at your zenith. It is you living your life without holding anything back, owning and therefore transcending your fears. To be a genius is to have the courage to live life with an open heart, as a deep romance… Your genius simply makes you a truly joyous human being.”
In Awaken Your Genius, Ozan Varol echoes this call reminding us that genius requires escaping conformity, igniting creativity, and daring to become extraordinary. And perhaps most hauntingly, he writes:
“There’s no burden greater than bearing an untold story.”
Big Sky 2026 is an invitation to tell the untold stories. To surface the genius within educators, leaders, and systems. To move from knowing to activating. From insight to embodiment. From possibility to measurable, lasting impact in schools, districts, and communities around the world.
August 27, 28, 29, and 30th - The general program is as follows:
August 27 | late afternoon start
Experience the activation of the Summit 2026 with the opening gathering and kick-off breakouts.
August 28 | 8:30 AM - 6:15 PM | Grand Rounds - Day 1
Start your day with breakfast at 7:00 AM before diving into an engaging program of mentor and breakout sessions. Morning sessions run from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by lunch & break from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. The afternoon sessions continue from 2:30 PM to 6:15 PM. There are snacks and breaks across the day.
August 29 | 8:30 AM - 6:15 PM | Grand Rounds - Day 2
Start your day with breakfast at 7:00 AM before diving into an engaging program of mentor and breakout sessions. Morning sessions run from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by lunch & break from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM. The afternoon sessions continue from 2:30 PM to 6:15 PM. There are snacks and breaks across the day.
August 30 | 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Activating Genius
Enjoy breakfast at 7:00 AM before the final internalization and activation of genius kicks off at 8:30 AM.
Once registered, you'll receive more information by the end of July, including summit session descriptions.
If you haven't said "yes" yet, it's time to activate your genius and learning by joining us at the 2026 Big Sky Literacy Summit where we ponder what it takes to steward education into a new future through.
*There will be no refunds after June 1, 2026.
Thank you to our 2025 SOR Partners
Sharing knowledge, inspiring change!
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The Mentors, Leaders & Teachers of the Sciences of Reading, Teaching, and Leading
The Summit is addressing is a multi-disciplinary experience addressing the sciences of reading (SoR), leading, learning, teaching, implementation, and MTSS. We do this through the perspectives of four groups of teachers: mentor scientists and thought leaders who are shaping the future of the field and the work we do; the translators and leaders who are doing the work in complex school ecosystems; and practitioners and school leaders applying their knowledge of the sciences of literacy transformation. Learn more about the mentors, mentor leaders, and teachers you will learn from by reading about who they are and what they believe.
The Summit Session Program and Agenda
All mentor teachings and sessions are being curated and planned for the collective effect that will take you from being a novice to becoming an expert about what it will take for you to activate genius in yourself and in your community. The initial outline of the schedule is posted on this landing page and the final session schedule will be posted in July via the link below.
Hotel and Location
Because The Summit has a world-class lineup of speakers, we thought you should enjoy it in an epic location, the Yellowstone Conference Center at Big Sky Resort, Montana. Please get your on-site discounted rooms at the below link, or look at other room options. Also, learn more about the adventures that await you at Big Sky by clicking on the Big Sky Logo.
The Summit Parking & Transportation
The Summit will be held in Big Sky, Montana. Planning where you are staying and how you are getting there is important! PLEASE PLAN your transfers from the airport by linking below. The daily events are at the Yellowstone Conference Center in Big Sky Mountain Village. The Center is attached to the Shoshone Condominium Hotel and Huntley Lodge and is close to the Village Center, Summit Hotel, or The Lodge at Big Sky. Big Sky Meadow Village is the next closest option, but will require a 10 min drive.
"“Genius describes you living at your zenith. It is you living your life without holding anything back, owning and therefore transcending your fears. To be a genius is to have the courage to live life with an open heart, as a deep romance… Your genius simply makes you a truly joyous human being.” Thanks for all you do to make us better!"
