TEACHERS SET THE STAGE TO ENHANCE CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE
Annual High Performing Schools Conference Series scheduled for July 31- Aug. 9
WACO, TEXAS— The last school bell may have rung for students, but teachers are headed back to class to prepare for the upcoming academic year. To help them get ready, Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 is hosting a High Performing Schools Conference Series July 31- Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at ESC Region 12 in Waco.
Joan Berry, director of core curriculum, said one benefit of the large-scale forum is it provides teachers quality professional development and the opportunity to network with colleagues outside of their district.
“We also felt … from our own experiences as teachers, it is a really good way to start the year, by attending something that gets you motivated and gives you some fresh ideas.”
This is the second year ESC Region 12 will offer the conference. The series is divided into four grade level clusters; high school, middle school, elementary and primary.
“We are trying to make it very practical. When a teacher leaves this conference they go away with ideas they can put into place next week or when school starts. When you attend a seminar with a broader range you get good information, but then you have to adapt it for your own classroom. We don’t want teachers to have to do that. We want them to be able to use it right now,” Berry said.
Brian Brabham, an ESC Region 12 team leader for core curriculum, said they are expecting more than 1,200 education professionals to attend this year’s conference.
The session for high school educators will kickoff Tuesday, July 31. Middle school participants meet Thursday, Aug. 2. Attendees for the elementary level will convene Monday, Aug. 6, and primary teachers, Wednesday, Aug. 8. Special keynote speakers will set the stage on the first day of each two-day event.
Dr. Sharon Faber, a literacy expert and president of Faber Consulting in Atlanta, Ga., will speak at the high school and elementary conferences. She is a contract consultant for three national organizations that focus on effective strategies to help schools and students succeed.
David Sanders, a National Middle School Association (NMSA) on-site staff development consultant, will address issues facing today’s middle schoolers. He began his career as a teacher and later became an instructional facilitator for the Georgia Department of Education prior to his current position at NMSA.
Primary teachers may find themselves wearing a different hat when they show up for their meeting. Keynote speaker Steve Saffron is known for using funny head dresses to make points during his presentations. A national trainer and motivational speaker since 1989, he uses humor and laughter to promote creativity and learning.
The remainder of the conference will consist of break-out sessions. Regional educators are not just participating in the conference; several are taking lead roles and conducting sessions. Topics to be addressed include assessment strategies, motivating struggling learners, hand-on techniques, critical thinking, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum support. The sessions will be structured to provide new ideas and strategies for use in the classroom, allow time to collaborate with peers and an opportunity to review new products and programs.
Registration is free for ESC Region 12 Enhanced Co-op members. More information about the conference series, registration and other programs offered by ESC Region 12 is available at www.esc12.net. For more details or to inqurie about school membership in the Enhanced Co-op, individuals should call 254.297.1117.
About the Speakers
Dr. Sharon H. Faber is a literacy expert and president of Faber Consulting, as well as a contract consultant for Modern Red Schoolhouse and Literacy First and two national organizations that focus on effective strategies to help schools and students succeed. She holds degrees from the Universities of Virginia, Texas and Midwestern State. Faber has taught students at all grade levels from kindergarten through college. In addition, she has held numerous administrative positions.
Dave Sanders is an on-site staff development consultant for the National Middle School Association. In addition he has been a middle school teacher and also an instructional facilitator for the Georgia Department of Education, helping to lead school improvement efforts there. Sanders does work with Academic Teaming, establishing a positive school climate, building teacher-driven advisory programs, dealing with at-risk students, classroom management strategies, and standards-based instruction.
Steve Saffron began his career as a professor at Arizona’s Scottsdale Community College in 1975. He created the first Friendship Class and Laughter, Humor and Play Class in the nation for college credit. Saffron’s keynotes and workshops earned him several awards during his tenure. In January 2005 he retired from teaching to work full-time as a professional speaker throughout the country.
About ESC Region 12
One of 20 centers throughout Texas, the Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12 provides professional training and technical assistance for the purpose of improving student performance for all students. Based in Waco, with offices in, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, Nolanville and Teague, the ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.
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