Program Type:
Featured- Registration is encouraged for this event.
- Registration is no longer available for this event.
Program Description
Event Details
Comic-Con International and San Diego Public Library have teamed up for the Comic Conference for Educators and Librarians (CCEL). This FREE five-day conference will take place at the San Diego Central Library during Comic-Con® from July 23-27, and will explore the role comics play in promoting education and literacy for all ages. Those in the library and education fields are invited to learn creative and exciting ways to incorporate comics and other popular arts into their work. Through presentations and panel discussions, the Conference hopes to engage the community and promote comics as a medium for learning.
Seating is not guaranteed and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is for interest only and does not guarantee a seat.
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Please join us for the following Educator Day panels at CCEL on Saturday, July 26th:
10:00–11:00 | Teaching Literary Analysis and Social Justice with Comics
Author and educator Johnny Parker II (Godzilla Rivals, The Black Man’s Guide to Getting Pulled Over) shares the comics, strategies, and assessments he utilizes in his classroom to boost engagement, teach literary analysis, promote social justice, and scaffold for students in need.
11:00–12:00 | Comics Under Fire
Censorship of comics is on the rise—and classrooms are feeling the heat. Susan Kirtley (Portland State University) and Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools) discuss navigating book bans, administrative resistance, and pushback against graphic narratives. Educators and librarians will gain tools for advocacy, reflection, and resilience to ensure comics continue to empower readers of all ages.
12:00–1:00 | Comics, Culture, and the Classroom
Explore how comics and pop culture turn classrooms into hubs of creativity and critical thinking. Timothy Ojetunde (WestEd), Chanti Burnette (Ǻnimo South Los Angeles), Kaylee Bieraugel (Ǻnimo Inglewood), and Austin Bruns (Ǻnimo Leadership) share student work and classroom strategies that connect identity, community, and counter-narratives through multimodal storytelling. You’ll leave ready to transform your literacy instruction—one panel at a time. Moderated by Angie Amador (Green Dot Public Schools).
1:00–2:00 | Drawing New Futures
What happens when Afrofuturism, AP lit, special education, and high expectations collide? Teachers Marquitta Sutton-Adams and Warren Smith from Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory High School share how they use comics, differentiated supports, and inclusive practices to challenge and inspire every learner. Moderated by Leondria Brown (Green Dot Public Schools), this panel showcases student-centered success stories that prove access and rigor aren’t just possible—they’re inseparable.
2:00–3:00 | Teaching Pop Culture in 2025: Embracing the Past/Preparing for the Future
The world of pop culture changes lightning fast; A.I. is both an opportunity and a challenge; cinema struggles to redefine itself; entertainment media churn and change. How do we keep up with it all and prepare students for today, tomorrow, and five years from now? Featuring academics Dr. Chris Wildrick (Syracuse University), Dr. Christina Knopf (SUNY Cortland), Rob Salkowitz (University of Oregon), Bailey Day (MBA, content producer), and Krista Rozanski (school library media specialist). Moderated by Ed Catto (Ithaca College).
3:00–4:00 | From Fantasy to Discovery: Harnessing Pop Culture for Epic Reading Intervention
Roel Mislan (Feaster Charter administrator), Aislinn Lowenberg (Feaster Charter instructor), and Aman Sahota (Factors AI Platform CEO & founder) share how popular titles and themes such as Dungeons and Dragons, Stranger Things, and Percy Jackson inspired a fresh approach to reading intervention for struggling students. They will explore how fan-favorite narratives became the gateway to academic confidence and literacy growth. Moderated by Chris Garcia (San Diego County Office of Education: EdTech coordinator).
4:00–5:00 | Science in Middle-Grade Sci-Fi
Panelists explore the importance of scientific accuracy in these stories and discuss whether it enhances the reading experience or gets in the way of the storytelling process. They will also talk about how accurately portrayed science can serve as a source of inspiration, potentially motivating young readers to become life-long readers of science fiction and even pursue future careers in STEM fields. Panelists include authors Greg Van Eekhout (Happy Town) and Delilah Dawson (Minecraft Mob Squad, Ride or Die) and scientists Lisa Will (resident astronomer; Fleet Science Center), and Ronald Coleman (PhD in Regenerative Medicine). Moderated by Mwenda KudumuBiggs (vice president of community service and engagement, Fleet Science Center).
5:00–6:00 | Transitioning Students from Consumers to Creators
Educators Lisa Harrison (Vista Innovation and Design Academy), Andrew Hudson (Roosevelt Middle School), Nichole Santangelo (Summit Academy), and Breann Williams (Vista Innovation and Design Academy) share practical strategies and classroom experiences that empower students to move beyond simply reading comics and graphic novels to creating their own. Learn how teachers are helping students become world-builders, character designers, and authors of original comics and graphic novels that reflect their voices and imaginations.
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Comic-Con badge-holders with valid single same-day or four-day badges are welcome to attend and are not required to register.
In addition to CCEL, San Diego Public Library hosts themed San Diego Comic-Con programming leading up to and through the days of the conference. Please visit our website for more information.