Arizona English Teachers Association

AETA

ANNUAL

CONFERENCE

To Dream of a World Beyond the Present

Practices for Restorative and Sustainable Teaching

2025 Arizona English Teachers Association Annual Conference
September 19 and 20, 2025 | Chandler Gilbert Community College

“Hope and the capacity to dream of a world beyond the present has always been at the heart of social justice movements. Hope, in and of itself, is an important form of resistance, both political and personal, and reaffirms what is possible, and worth fighting for” (Ginwright, 2015). 

Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s call to action is both a grounding and guiding message for navigating education. In an era where 44% of K-12 teachers report feeling burned out and educational challenges continue to mount, the 2025 AETA conference theme reflects an urgent need to reimagine teaching practices. Restorative English Education offers a revitalizing approach to student learning and cultivating authentic classroom communities, and sustainable teaching methods are increasingly vital for both educator contentment and longevity in our profession. This conference aims to equip educators with practical tools and innovative strategies that position hope as resistance, support teacher well-being, and create lasting and healing change.

Brian Selznick | Saturday, September 20 | 2:50 - 3:40 PM

Brian Selznick is the groundbreaking creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which won the Caldecott Medal and inspired the Oscar-winning film Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese. His multimodal novels, including Wonderstruck, Kaleidoscope (called a “lockdown masterpiece” by The New York Times), The Marvels, Big Tree, and Run Away With Me, merge visual art with rich narratives to captivate readers of all ages. His book Big Tree, inspired by an idea from Steven Spielberg, was named one of the Best Children's Books of 2023 by The New York Times, and the audio book, narrated by Meryl Streep, was nominated for a Grammy. Selznick’s work inspires curiosity, empathy, and wonder—making him a powerful voice for the role of art and literature in education.

Dr. Sarah M. Zerwin | Saturday, September 20 | 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Dr. Sarah M. Zerwin is a high school English teacher with more than two decades of classroom experience, and the author of Pointless: An English Teacher’s Guide to More Meaningful Grading and Step Aside: Strategies for Student-Driven Learning with Secondary Readers and Writers. Known for her innovative and equitable approaches to assessment and curriculum design, Dr. Zerwin encourages educators to create a culture of feedback that prioritizes student growth and fosters a collaborative learning environment. Her work blends practical strategies with research-based insights, equipping teachers to create classrooms where students are deeply engaged and empowered.

Safiya Sinclair | Friday, September 19 | 4:10 - 5:00 PM

Safiya Sinclair was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the author of the award-winning memoir How to Say Babylon, and Cannibal, her debut poetry collection that won both the Whiting Award and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Metcalf Award. How to Say Babylon has received some of the highest honors in literature, including the National Book Critics Circle Award and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, and was a finalist for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction and the Kirkus Prize. Her work is a stunning exploration of identity, language, family, culture, and place. In addition to being a celebrated author, she is also an associate professor of English at Arizona State University, where she teaches creative writing
and poetry.

Scholarship Deadline: September 1st

Conference Scholarships

  • The Early Career Educators Scholarship aims to increase the attendance of educators in their first 3 years of teaching at the AETA annual conference and to reduce the financial burden of attendance for teachers who are not financially supported by their school districts.

    Award: $100 to go towards travel/lodging and a complimentary conference registration.

  • The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship aims to increase the attendance of educators who are members of underserved and historically marginalized communities (i.e. Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian/Asian Pacific, LGBTQIA+, and disabled) at the AETA annual conference and to reduce the financial burden of attendance for teachers who are not financially supported by their school districts.

    Award: $100 to go towards travel/lodging and a complimentary conference registration.

  • The Rural Educators Scholarship aims to increase attendance at the AETA annual conference from all parts of the state and to reduce the financial burden of attendance for teachers from rural areas who are not financially supported by their school districts.

    Award: $100 to go towards travel/lodging and a complimentary conference registration.

Exhibitors

Interested in becoming an AETA exhibitor?

We look forward to working together to showcase your organization and provide professional support for Arizona’s English educators with you!

Conference Details

 

  • Friday, September 19, 2025

    Saturday, September 20, 2025

    Chandler Gilbert Community College

    2626 E Pecos Rd, Chandler, AZ 85225