An Evening at The Carter Center

An Evening at The Carter Center – October 23, 2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for An Evening at The Carter Center!
This beautiful gathering brought together conference attendees, educators, advocates, and families to celebrate connection, creativity, and community.

Atlanta served as the perfect host city for the 2025 IDA National Conference, and this special evening gave guests a chance to relax, mingle, and reflect on the power of literacy to change lives. Complimentary bus transportation was provided between the Hyatt Regency and The Carter Center for attendees.

Guests enjoyed raffle drawings and displays from the Dyslexia Talent and Creativity Showcase, featuring artwork and books created by individuals with dyslexia.

Photo Album

We would love to see the evening through your eyes.
Add your favorite photos—or simply enjoy the memories—in our shared album:
An Evening at The Carter Center 2025 – Shared Album
Update 12/3/25: We are editing out duplicates, etc., and creating a video recap which will be housed on our YouTube Channel. If you have photos you would like to share, please email us at info@idaga.org.

Guest Speaker: Ray James

Ray James, Head of School at The Boyce L. Ansley School in Atlanta, inspired attendees with his message about literacy as a catalyst for change.
Although his address was not recorded, you can hear his story and philosophy in several podcast interviews, including 
Amplify’s Science of Reading: The Podcast – “Literacy as a Catalyst for Change”

Learn more about The Boyce L. Ansley School and Ray James below.

Honoring Excellence in Literacy and Service

During the welcome address, IDA Georgia recognized two individuals for their leadership and dedication to literacy and dyslexia awareness:

• Leadership-in-Literacy Award: Betsy Primm

• Outstanding Service Award: Ann Marie Lewis

Sponsors

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organizations that made this special evening possible. Their partnership and generosity reflect a shared commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all learners.

Platinum Plus Sponsors (featured with information tables at the event)

• The Howard School

• Wardlaw School of the Atlanta Speech School

• The Schenck School and ReadSource

• Swift School

• Rollins Center for Language & Literacy / Cox Campus

• The Walker School – New Avenues Dyslexia Program

Additional Sponsors

• Woodward Academy – Transition Learning Support Program

• Sandy Springs Center for Psychological Services

• GRACEPOINT School

• Roberts Academy at Mercer University

• Cultivating Literacy, LLC

• Nessy Learning

• Public Consulting Group

About The Boyce L. Ansley School

The Boyce L. Ansley School provides a 100% tuition-free, family-centered private school experience for children who have experienced homelessness. Under the leadership of Ray James, the school integrates structured literacy instruction with a holistic, human-centered approach to education, empowering every child to reach their potential.

Learn more about Ray James** and The Ansley School through these resources:

• Literacy & Justice for All

• Amplify: Science of Reading Podcast

• The Kelly Clarkson Show

• School Video (2024–2025)

• Instagram (school) | Facebook (school) | LinkedIn (Ray James)

Sponsorship Opportunities

This special, inspirational networking event allows IDA-GA to offer organizations unique sponsorship opportunities connected to both An Evening at The Carter Center and the annual Dyslexia Dash.
Learn more at our 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities page. Stay tuned for information about our 2026 opportunities. 

**Ray James is Head of School at The Boyce L. Ansley School in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a critically conscious and outcomes-driven educational leader with 15 years of experience in various roles in formal and informal education settings. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University and is passionately committed to fostering educational equity and supporting the limitless potential of all children. Under his leadership, The Ansley School provides a 100% tuition-free, family-centered & holistic private school educational experience to children experiencing homelessness, further emphasizing the transformative power of structured literacy & a radical human-centered belief. Outside of work, Ray enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and LSU Tigers.