Symposiums and Lecture Series
Hear from experts
in the field!
Each spring the Center invites parents, educators, administrators, physicians, therapists, and others interested in literacy to attend the C.J. Davidson Memorial Lecture Series: Advances in Literacy. This event began in 1997, when the Davidson family of Midland provided a foundational grant for teachers and others in this area an opportunity to hear nationally renowned speakers in the field of literacy. The Lecture Series is held at the Scottish Rite Building in Lubbock. Dr. G. Reid Lyon, Distinguished Professor of Education Policy at Southern Methodist University, nationally known for his work with the National Reading Panel and National Institutes of Health in the study of scientific based reading programs, presented at the first lecture series in 1997 and a second time at the 2010 Lecture Series. Other guest speakers have included Dr. Jeffrey Black, Dr. Robert Brooks, Suzanne Carreker, Marcia Henry, Priscilla Vail, and Barbara Wise. A nominal fee is charged to attend the all-day event.
The 2024 C.J. Davidson Lecture Series speaker will be Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Ed.D, CCC-SLP, CDT, CALT-QI. Elsa is the Director of Valley Speech Language and Learning Center in Brownsville, Texas.
Dr. Cárdenas-Hagan is the author of Esperanza (HOPE), a Spanish language program designed to assist students who struggle with learning to read. Her presentation will include:
- Research on Structured Literacy for English Learners
• Language and Speech Development
• Language to Literacy Connections
• Foundational Skills of Literacy
• Oral Language Development
• Comprehension
• Discussion and Closing Thoughts
Past Speakers
2023 #26 Karen Avrit
” The New Texas State Dyslexia Handbook and What it Means to Us”, Related Disorders and Dysgraphia”, “Early Childhood Research and Intervention”, and “High School Research and Intervention”
2022 #25 Dr. Eric Tridas
“The Perfect Storm – Inattention, Dyslexia and Anxiety and Perfect Solutions – The Multidisciplinary Management of a Child with Inattention, Dyslexia and Anxiety” presented by Eric Tridas MD, FAAP
2020 #24 Dr. Nancy Cushen-White
“Best Practices for Teaching Handwriting to Students With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia – From Skills to Functional Use” and “Words With Spelling Connections Have Meaning Connections” presented by Nancy Cushen-White, Ed.D
2019 #23 Sucheta Kamatha
“Demystifying Executive Function, Self-Regulation, and Organization” presented by Sucheta A. Kamath, M.A., BC-NCD, CCC/SLP