Conferences and Events

Patrick Harris II, author of “The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers”, will share his wisdom and love for the teaching profession. If you are approaching the end of your 1st, 3rd, 5th, or 20th year of teaching in the classroom, the ideas offered by Patrick bring to light the realities of teaching and affirm the humanity of all teachers. He will discuss the importance of exploring more deeply our true “why” for teaching and inspire us to dream big about what we want for ourselves, our students, our schools, and our educational system. His debut book, “The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers” is available wherever you purchase books. 

with Patrick Harris II

Patrick Lamont Harris II (he/him) is an award-winning educator, bold storyteller, and compelling writer. A Detroit native, Patrick holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Digital Strategy from the University of Oklahoma. He unapologetically identifies as Black + Queer. Patrick was honored on the 2021 International Literacy Association’s 30 under 30 list for innovative approaches to literacy instruction. He is the host of the Common Sense Podcast with over 100k downloads, sharing the real stories of current educators and allies navigating the education system. Patrick’s thoughts on education can be found in Education Week, ABC, CNN, GQ, Huffington Post, and more. He is currently a Dean of Students and English teacher in Metro Detroit.

Patrick currently serves on the National Council of Teachers of English’s Committee (NCTE) Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English. He is the recipient of NCTE’s Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award. Patrick has spoken on panels, presented workshops, and delivered keynotes in numerous academic, professional, and community spaces.

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