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Welcome to the 51st Annual Council of Black Administrators (COBA) Black Child Conference and Scholarship Awards. This year’s conference will occur at Los Angeles Trade Tech College, 400 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015. The theme is "Reimagining the Table: Cultivating Excellence in Every Seat." We are excited to celebrate this year’s Scholarship Award Recipients and AEMP Black History Month Essay Contest Winners. 


We look forward to seeing everyone at Los Angeles Trade Tech College on Saturday, April 18, 2026, for a memorable conference and celebration! 

Saturday April 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Small Books, Big Impact: Build Reading Joy and Improve Academic Success with High-Interest Novellas is a high-impact professional learning workshop addressing a growing issue in secondary classrooms: students start books but don’t finish them and achievement suffers as a result. The session demonstrates how strategically integrating high-interest novellas (70–150 pages) can rebuild reading volume and stamina without lowering rigor, leading to stronger vocabulary development, analytical thinking, writing endurance, and improved state and AP performance.


Participants learn how novellas function as a scalable, equity-centered literacy strategy: powering independent reading, accelerating book clubs, redesigning summer reading, and supporting both intervention and enrichment. Through data analysis, reflection on student motivation, and an interactive “novella tasting” featuring an excerpt from Remembering Love by Latrice L. Washington, educators leave with concrete implementation plans and ready-to-use resources.


Big takeaway: Small books remove barriers, increase completion, and drive rigorous, joyful literacy outcomes, especially for historically underserved students.
Presenters
avatar for Latrice L. Washington

Latrice L. Washington

Owner, The LeShae Collection
Latrice L. Washington is a storyteller at heart with a pen in one hand and a passion for people in the other. A Los Angeles-based author, educator, and former television producer, she brings a rich blend of media savvy, emotional depth, and literary craft to every story she tells... Read More →
Saturday April 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT

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