Celebrates 20 Years Strong: Unlocking Potential, Changing Lives
Mississippi Christian University will host the Fall 2026 Dyslexia Therapy Conference, Celebrating 20 Years Strong: Unlocking Potential, Changing Lives, on September 17-18 in Anderson Hall, located on the second floor of the B.C. Rogers Student Center. The Annual event, sponsored by the MC Dyslexia Education and Evaluation Center, the School of Education and Human Sciences, and the Mississippi Chapter of ALTA (Academic Language Therapy Association), brings together educators, parents, and students to explore innovative approaches to literacy instruction and dyslexia therapy. This year’s conference honors two decades of leadership in dyslexia education and highlights the transformative impact of hope, research, and evidence‑based practice on student success and support.
The conference costs $200 for both days, $125 Thursday’s sessions, and $125 for Friday’s sessions. Costs include meal tickets for lunch in the MC Cafeteria. Registration begins each day at 7:15 a.m., with the program to follow at 8:15 a.m. MC CEUS and ALTA CEUs (10 for both days) are available.
Thursday’s Keynote Speaker
Beyond Reading: Understanding the Mental Health Impact of Dyslexia
Melissa Shields, NCC, LPC-S, Division Director of Behavioral Health Solutions at Canopy Children’s Solutions
Keynote Description: Drawing on more than a decade of clinical experience in children’s mental health as well as her personal experience parenting a son with dyslexia, Melissa blends professional expertise with lived perspective. This session examines the emotional and psychological toll, including common co-occurring mental health diagnoses, that reading difficulty can take on children, and what educators, clinicians, and parents can do about it.
Friday’s Keynote Speaker
Shaping Strength: A Journey Through Dyslexia, Determination, and the Art of Sculpting
Cecelia Moseley, MFA Operations Manager, Sloss Furnaces | Instructor, Samford University
Keynote Description:
Cecelia Moseley shares her personal journey with dyslexia, illustrating how sculpting provided an outlet for perseverance and growth while inspiring educators to help students see their potential beyond learning obstacles.
Breaking the Cycle: Learned Helplessness in Undiagnosed Learners— And How We Restore Agency, Confidence, and Hope
Cheryl Chase, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Educational Consultant
Keynote Description:
Unaddressed learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD can cause students to develop "learned helplessness"—a state where they stop trying because failure feels inevitable. Dr. Cheryl Chase explores the psychology behind this mindset and demonstrates how educators can interrupt the cycle through practical shifts in language, feedback, and instruction. Attendees will gain research-backed strategies to rebuild student confidence, reignite motivation, and restore agency.
From Research to Routine: Implementing Sustainable MTSS Literacy Practices in K–1 Schools
Kristen D. Wynn, Head of AIM Institute for Learning and Research
Keynote Description:
This session will highlight the Early Reading Success Schools Demonstration Project — a multi-state initiative bringing the science of reading to 1,000 K–1 students across ten schools.
Kristine Wynn will share practical strategies for building sustainable early literacy systems through professional learning, data-driven coaching, and strong leadership infrastructure.
Registration ends on September 14, 2026.
If you have any questions, you may contact Jan Hankins at dyslexia@mc.edu.