On this page...
Plan your Pop YS Con day one! See session times and read more about the keynotes and breakout sessions that will be featured throughout the day.
Earn CE Credit for Pop YS Con 2026! Complete the CE form once after you have attended your final session; a link to the form will be available during the conference.
Back to topDay 1: April 16, 2026 Schedule
Pop YS Con will be held April 16 and 17, 2026 in a virtual format. See the April 17, 2026 Schedule.
Click the links under the Session column on the table below to go to that session's title(s), speaker(s), and description(s). Breakouts feature three options for each session.
Links to each session's Zoom webinar room will be available on conference day in the table below. If Zoom prompts for a passcode, use: PYSC
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Morning Keynote | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. |
| Breakout Session 1 | 11:00 a.m. - Noon |
| Breakout Session 2 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. |
| Afternoon Keynote | 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. |
Download a printable one-page PDF of the conference schedule:
2026 At-A-Glance Schedule (coming soon!)
Back to topMorning Keynote
Time: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
A Joyous Way to Learn: Music Play to Promote Readiness, Literacy and Math Development
Speaker: Jim Gill | Musician & Author
For 35 years, Jim Gill has used his banjo and the power of music to bridge the gap between play and early childhood learning. In this high-energy session, Jim will share his award-winning songs and musical books that combine active movement with word play and rhymes. Librarians can also learn new fingerplays and singable songs that you can share with kids at your next storytime that promotes the Five Early Literacy Skills of Read, Play, Sing, Write, and Talk.
Librarians will also gain practical strategies to boost a child’s self-regulation skills, literacy, and numeracy. With 20 years of experience in leading family play groups, Jim will share strategies to help you engage and lead parents and caregivers to engage with their kiddos during storytime!
You’ll leave with specific techniques to engage families, a fresh repertoire of songs to use in storytimes, and encouragement to help you create new strategies to help young children learn!
List items for About Jim Gill
Jim Gill is a musician and author with singular credentials among children's artists. Jim spent 20 years directing programs in music play for families with children with special needs in the Chicago area. His particular writing style - combining word play and movement opportunities into songs - was developed through this work. Jim completed his graduate studies in child development at the Erikson Institute of Chicago with a special emphasis on the study of play. His work experience and studies have led Jim to create each of his recording sand books as an opportunity for playful interactions between a child and a caring adult. Jim has released 10 award-winning recordings of music play for young children. The songs are now available on all streaming platforms so that EVERYONE can have access to his ACTIVE musical games! Jim is also the author of two children's books Over the years, he has received five awards from the American Library Association for his releases. Jim's most recent project involves traveling the country for special concert events that encourage talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. These events promote literacy development through a family project based on Jim's book, May There Always Be Sunshine.
Breakout Session 1
Time: 11:00 a.m. - Noon
List items for Pop YS Con Day 1 Breakout Session 1
Get an overview of developing routine and diverse teen programming, including hangouts, bring your own book clubs, Dungeons & Dragons events, teen leadership opportunities, and more. Hear about long-term planning strategies, event logistics, strategies for seeking teen input, and groundwork for developing a Teen Leadership Council.
This session is designed to offer a referenceable structure for initiating routine teen programs, to help attendees gain insight into how to start a Teen Leadership Council, and to help attendees understand the benefits of teen-led programming and teen feedback.
Presenter: Catherine Shook
Catherine Shook is the Teen Services Librarian at the Norwalk Easter Public Library and has been working with and for teens at her library since 2022. She received her Masters in Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama and her undergraduate degree in English Literature, with a Creative Writing focus, from the University of Iowa. When not attempting to herd cats/manage chaos at work, she enjoys singing, studying Italian, baking, and finding poetry open mics to attend.
Stretchy bands can transform an ordinary storytime into an engaging, whole-body experience. This session explores creative ways to incorporate stretchy bands into storytime routines to encourage movement, collaboration, and active participation. Participants will learn strategies for introducing the prop with clear expectations, maintaining a safe and inclusive environment, and using movement to support early literacy development. We’ll also explore how tactile, interactive experiences help children stay focused, feel connected, and deepen their engagement with stories. Attendees will leave with practical ideas and inspiration to bring more movement, connection, and joy into their storytime programs.
Presenter: Maddie Bassman
Maddie Bassman is currently an Outreach Librarian with the Des Moines Public Library, where she has worked in different roles throughout the library for 12 years. Throughout the week, she works with infants through elementary age children at schools, daycares and Head Starts, bringing DMPL's reading mascot Rosie Reader with her everywhere she goes!
When schools are empty, libraries are full! Looking for something for school aged kids to do at your library? Our "No School Day" programs are designed for K-5th grade students and offer kids an opportunity to engage and connect with peers at the library. We'll share our budget-friendly, low-prep activities that can be implemented with groups of all sizes. Each day is planned for whatever size group we get, as there is no registration required for this program. We will share tips, tricks, and suggestions for this program.
Presenters: Danielle Ziegler, Heidi Chopskie, Michelle Rowe
Danielle Ziegler (above) has been working in youth services at the Ames Public Library since 2009. She loves working with kids of all ages. When not reading juvenile and Young Adult books, she is spending time with her family.
Heidi Chopskie (above) is from Ames, IA and has been a youth services library assistant at Ames Public Library since 2024.
Michelle Rowe (above) is from Ames, IA and has been a youth services library assistant at Ames Public Library since 2025.
Breakout Session 2
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
List items for Pop YS Con Day 1 Breakout Session 2
Great spellers become great readers, and public libraries can make it happen. Join the Executive Director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee to discover how your library can partner with local schools to bring Iowa's new state spelling bee program to life. Learn ready-to-use strategies that deepen vocabulary, motivate independent reading, and build community camaraderie. Find out how Iowa students can now earn a guaranteed pathway to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Leave inspired, and equipped, to make your library the literacy hub that launches a champion.
Presenters: Corrie Loeffler, Elizabeth Keest Sedrel, Mary Brooks
Corrie Loeffler leads all aspects of the Bee’s year-round educational program and builds additional opportunities for the iconic and mission-focused brand to connect with and inspire audiences across the country.
Elizabeth Keest Sedrel brings more than 25 years of experience in communications to her role at Living History Farms, having previously worked for the Des Moines Register, Better Homes and Gardens, and the state of Iowa.
Mary Brooks is a retired educator from the West Des Moines Community School District and currently serves as Head Judge of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Mary served six years on the West Des Moines Library Friends Foundation Board before being appointed by the Mayor to the Library Board of Trustees in 2017.
Tight budget, and need some fresh ideas for Teen and Tween programs? This is the session for you! Dr. Ambri Refer will discuss some budget friendly ways to maximize fun in all areas of Teen and Tween Programs. Victoria Brander will be presenting on how to bring Camp Half Blood to life, while keeping the budget half off. Sam Exline will be presenting her take on snacks and savings with International Snack Club. Each presentation is designed with budget in mind, and fun at heart!
Presenters: Dr. Ambri Refer, Sam Exline, Victoria Brander
Dr. Ambri Refer (above) has been working in public libraries for 16 years. She has worked with all age groups in Iowa library sizes D and G.
Sam Exline (above) has worked in youth and teen services at public and school libraries for 8 years. She is the point person for Teen Programming and Services at the Marion Public Library.
Victoria Brander (above) has been the Education and Literacy Librarian at the Orange City Public Library for just over a year. She plans and leads most of the programs and events at the library, and loves every minute of it!
As a personal-perspective-based artform, photography is a natural draw for teenagers. Entering its third year of hosting a teen photography contest, the Avoca Public Library has seen a lot of success with this program, while also learning some valuable lessons about best practices and how to generate participation. In this discussion, we’ll talk about how this program builds confidence and skills for the participants, while meeting the library’s STEAM goals. On the logistical side, it can easily be scaled to different sized libraries and promote community connections through various partnership opportunities.
Presenter: Jeremy Hall
Jeremy Hall earned a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2003 and has worked in the publishing industry for over twenty years, including as a freelance proofreader and copy editor. He has been working as the webmaster and program coordinator for the Avoca Public Library, in Avoca, Iowa, since 2023.
Afternoon Keynote
Time: 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Connecting Librarians to the Iowa Comprehensive Statewide Literacy Plan
Speakers: Dr. Darcie Kress, Leigh Bellville, April Gosselink-Lemke, Wanda Steuri | Iowa Dept. of Education
Join the Iowa Department of Education Literacy Team for insights into statewide initiatives dedicated to advancing literacy outcomes. This session will guide librarians through the key components of Iowa’s Comprehensive Statewide Literacy Plan (CSLP). Participants will receive strategies to support birth - Grade 12 students with literacy skills in a library setting.
About the Presenters
List items for Pop YS Con Afternoon Keynote Presenter Bios
Leigh Bellville has been a Literacy Consultant with the Iowa Department of Education for nearly seven years. She values opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across bureaus and to engage with external partners in supporting school districts. Leigh co-leads the Statewide Literacy Leadership Team, and has served as the lead for the Iowa Literacy Standards Review process and the development of Iowa’s comprehensive state literacy plan. She also contributed to national efforts as a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) ELA Collaborative planning team. With over twenty years of experience in education, Leigh previously taught secondary English Language Arts for ten years and worked as an instructional coach across disciplines. She holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, with an emphasis on Teaching Pedagogy and Literacy, from Skidmore College in New York, and an ESL/ELL K–12 Endorsement from Drake University in Des Moines.
April Gosselink-Lemke currently serves as the Elementary Literacy Consultant at the Iowa Department of Education, a role she has held for the past two years. With over two decades of experience in education, as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, and administrator, she brings deep expertise in literacy instruction and leadership. April co-leads the Statewide Literacy Leadership Team, contributes to national efforts as a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) ELA Collaborative, and supports the Iowa Programs for At-Risk Early Elementary Students. She also was a co-lead in the Iowa Literacy Standards Review Process. April collaborates and works closely with colleagues across departments to support school districts and regularly leads professional learning opportunities for educators across the state. She holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Arizona State University, where she spent her first four years as an educator.
Wanda Steuri has been with the Iowa Department of Education as a Dyslexia and Science of Reading Consultant for the past two and one-half years. Her background includes over 30 years in the field of education in which she has held the roles of elementary teacher, a curriculum director, an instructional coach, a district level ELA curriculum coordinator, a research assistant at the IRRC, and an AEA literacy consultant. Wanda has received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, her Masters in Elementary Educational Leadership, her EdS in Educational Administration with a concentration as a Reading Specialist, and her Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement. As part of the literacy team at the Department of Education, Wanda is a member of the Iowa Dyslexia Board and IRRC Advisory Council, coordinates the LETRS professional learning, and serves as a member of the Statewide Literacy Leadership Team. She also collaborates across bureaus, with external partners, with school districts, and with caregivers.
Dr. Darcie Kress is the Administrative Consultant for Literacy at the Iowa Department of Education. She brings 30 years of experience in the field of education, including classroom teacher, teacher of Talented/Gifted, District Lead for Elementary Curriculum, and District K-12 Talented and Gifted Coordinator before joining the Department of Education. She is the Project Director for Iowa’s Comprehensive Statewide Literacy Grant, and supports all of the efforts within the Literacy team at the Department. Darcie holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in Elementary Education, M.S. from Western Illinois University in Elementary Education, and Ed.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Northern Iowa. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Iowa ASCD, and belongs to several professional organizations. Darcie also enjoys collaborating across the Department and with colleagues within and beyond our state to advance literacy for students across Iowa.