Markesha Tisby, M.Ed.

We are only halfway through this year, and it has already been extraordinary. 💙

As President of TCTELA, I have had the honor of standing alongside Texas educators who refused to let teacher voice be an afterthought in a decision that will shape classrooms for years to come.

This week, I was featured on NPR’s On Point in an episode titled “Should states decide what kids read in school?” Earlier this summer, I was quoted in The New York Times on the same topic. And today, TCTELA received NCTE’s 2026 Affiliate Intellectual Freedom Award, recognizing our university research team for their extraordinary work.

None of this was about me. It was about every teacher who showed up, spoke up, and made sure their voice was heard. I am grateful beyond words, and there is still more work to do. 💙

🎧 Link in bio to listen to the On Point episode. My segment begins approximately halfway through.

IntellectualFreedom NCTE NPR OnPoint LiteracyMatters PublicSchoolProud

This testimonial from Brooke B., an RLA Instructional Coach, is one I will be rereading for a long time.

She shared that our work together was transformative, not just for her teachers, but for her own growth as a campus leader, and that I never gave up on any teacher, even the ones who initially resisted the process.

Building on what a campus already has, instead of tearing it down and starting over, is exactly the kind of sustainable change I aim for. Thank you, Brooke!

Learn more at www.tisbyconsultant.com

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Check out this conversation. It won’t disappoint. The award-winning author and poet, Carole Boston Weatherford, will speak during the Friday Luncheon at TCTELA 2027! I. Am. Thrilled.

Teaching Truth Without Losing Wonder | Carole Boston Weatherford | TCTELA 2027 How do we tell children the truth—without draining the wonder out o...

Here it is, my #1 favorite project from the 25-26 school year, and honestly, nothing else came close.

Last year, I had the opportunity to work with the very elementary campus I attended as a child. Walking those halls again, this time as a literacy consultant instead of a student, is a moment I will carry with me forever.

Getting to pour into the teachers and students at a place that shaped who I am today is exactly why I do this work. Full circle moments like this remind me that this is not just a job, it is a calling.

Thank you for following along with this countdown. Here is to more full circle moments in the 26-27 school year.

⏰ Time is ticking... Nominate. Celebrate. Inspire.

https://www.tctela.org/award-nominations

Continuing my countdown of favorite projects from the 25-26 school year. At #2...

I spent this year supporting new-to-the-profession teachers across Kindergarten through 3rd grade. Coaching brand new teachers requires a different kind of intentionality, and I loved building foundational literacy practices alongside them from day one.

Investing in new teachers early pays dividends for years to come, both for the teacher and for every student in their classroom.

One more to go in this countdown.

Mark your calendars!

Great literacy instruction relies on building connections in our classrooms while teaching our students the structures we will use all year long to grow in literacy. Whether you're in your first year or your 31st, these panelists will share tips and tricks to help you begin the year well! Remember, you don't have to be a member to attend. Come, bring a friend, especially if you have new teachers on your campus this year!

https://www.tctela.org/section-meetings

Kicking off a countdown of my favorite projects from the 25-26 school year! Starting at #3...

One of my favorite sessions this year was working with a district's fine arts teachers on "Making the Invisible Visible: Amplifying T-TESS Performance Through Literacy in Fine Arts."

Fine arts teachers do not always get literacy-focused PD built for them, so getting to show up in their world and connect literacy strategies to what they already do best was such a joy. Watching them realize how much literacy is already woven into their classrooms was a highlight of my year.

Stay tuned for #2!

Nothing makes my work more meaningful than hearing how it shows up in real classrooms.

Sara M., a 3rd grade teacher, shared that our time together at Westwood Elementary came at exactly the right moment for her, and that she is already using what she learned as she heads into next year.

This is why I do this work. Thank you, Sara!