Sunday, July 13
Buffet Lunch/Opening Session – 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m.
Measuring and Improving School Climate: A Strategy That Promotes Students Achievement – Accountability Systems That Support Learning and Whole School Improvement
Educators and parents have focused on school climate – or the quality and character of school life – for more than 100 years. School climate is based on the patterns of school life and reflects norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching, learning, leadership practices and organizational structures. This presentation will summarize school climate research, policy and practice and then focus on how we can use school climate assessment as a springboard for substantive social, emotional, ethical, civic and intellectual school improvement efforts.
Presenter: Dr. Jonathan Cohen, president, Center for Social and Emotional Education
Educational Sessions – 2:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
- How a Board Can Assure a Quality Education for All Students: The Perspectives of Three Superintendents
The panel members will share their perspectives on what successful boards do that positively impacts the students, the district and the community. Hear how teamwork, planning, resource allocation, relationships and legislative involvement can help your board become a truly high-functioning leadership team.
Presenters: Rodney Green, superintendent, Spring Cove SD; Dr. Rita Jones, superintendent, Great Valley SD; and Dr. Kathleen Kelley, superintendent, Williamsport Area SD
- Preparing Teachers the Penn State Harrisburg Way
This presentation will provide an overview of the elementary education program, covering its vision, mission and philosophy as well as insight into the courses, field placements and student teaching experience.
Presenter: Dr. Ann Berger-Knorr, assistant professor of education and reading, Penn State University, Harrisburg Campus
- Can Reading Failure Be Prevented? What Does the Research Tell Us About Highly Effective Schools?
This session will review what current research suggests about whether it is possible to prevent reading failure, even among children who are at high risk for reading failure, including children raised in poverty and children who likely are dyslexic.
Presenter: Michael Grabarits, chairman, Institute for Literacy and Learning
Special Presentation at General Session – 3:45-4:15 p.m.
Francesca Fiore, West Chester Area SD, winner, Poetry Out Loud, National Endowment for the Arts
General Session – 4:15-5:30 p.m.
Service Learning
As district leaders focus on effective teaching and learning strategies for student achievement and success, service learning offers unique and positive results. Service learning combines service to the community with academic, civic and workforce development and benefits students, schools and communities. Learn how to ensure that service learning is conducted in quality ways, how to successfully integrate and sustain quality service learning, what policies to adopt/adapt and what results to expect.
Presenter: Terry Pickeral, executive director, National Center for Learning and Citizenship, Education Commission of the States
Monday, July 14
Breakfast/General Session – 8-9:15 a.m.
“Pennsylvania High School Principal of the Year”
James Donnelly, the Pennsylvania High School Principal of the Year, is from Chichester High School, which presently serves 1,178 students and is located outside of Philadelphia. It is a suburban school district with very urban issues. He will talk about the improvement of the high school.
Presenter: James Donnelly
Educational Sessions – 9:30-10:45 a.m.
- Seeking Common Ground
This interactive session provides the opportunity for new and veteran school board members to think deeply about the incredible opportunity their school system has in building “social capital” in its community. As a tool for economic development, for community development and for true collaborative spirit, school board members hold a position to strengthen relationships and move their entire population to a better place. Learn about both “bonding” social capital” and “bridging” social capital examples, and think about how to take action.
Presenter: Dr. Linda Croushore, executive director, Consortium for Public Education
- Hiring Only the Best
Want to look like a genius? Hire good teachers. Why do we need good teachers? How do we know when we see one? This session will explore these questions and provide screening devices, interview questions, rating sheets and possible processes for hiring good teachers (and other staff) and looking like a genius.
Presenter: Dr. Carol Saylor, superintendent, Manheim Central SD
- Classroom Online Collaboration
SharePoint allows teachers and students the ability to collaborate online in a controlled environment. Those attending the session will understand the process and how to create a safe environment for teachers and students using collaborative spaces in the classroom and across curricular areas, buildings and districts.
Presenter: Andrew Boegly, chief information officer, Colonial SD
- Educating the “Whole Child”: Implications for School District Policies, Programs and Practices
The “Whole Child” initiative promotes educating students to be engaged, motivated, healthy and knowledgeable. This session will explore the Whole Child concept and its implications for teaching, learning, educational programming and district-level policy-making.
Presenter: Dr. Edward Bureau, School of Education, Drexel University
Educational Sessions – 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
- Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative
This session provides attendees with an introduction and overview of the Pennsylvania High School Coaching Initiative, established in a partnership with the Annenberg Foundation and PDE. The program is designed to improve student outcomes by creating more experienced teacher leaders in schools.
Presenters: Mike Reed, principal, and Jill Schiessl, 10th-grade teacher and team leader – both of Harrisburg SciTech High School, Harrisburg City SD
- The “Every Child Can Read” Literacy Initiative
Springfield SD’s literacy goal is that 100% of all elementary students would be reading on grade level by fourth grade. This goal brought many changes including cultural, leadership, personnel, class-size and interventions. Data drives the balanced literacy approach that occurs throughout the elementary schools.
Presenters: Cynthia Morse, principal, Sabold Elementary School, and David Soslau, principal, Scenic Hills Elementary School, Springfield SD
- Creating a Collaborative Culture for Continuous Learning for All
Using the tenets of professional learning communities, this session provides a blueprint for improving school cultures and student achievement through collaboration.
Presenter: Dr. Deborah L. Wortham. superintendent, Steelton-Highspire SD
- Unleash Authentic Learning Through Service Learning
Service learning is the potent combination of meaningful service to the community, academically rigorous classroom education and deliberate, structured reflection so that students connect what they are learning to the service performed. This session will include examples from the State College Area School of service-learning projects, partnering with the community and governmental agencies, integration with academics and student organizations and working with postsecondary education.
Presenters: Lou Ann Evans, board member, State College Area SD, PSBA past president and member, 100 District Leaders, and Paul Heasley, career and technical center agricultural teacher, State College Area SD
Buffet Lunch/Closing Session – 12:30-2 p.m.
Great Schools Have Great Leaders
The Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership program (PIL) was initiated by the Rendell administration to develop great leaders for every school in Pennsylvania. Learn more about how the program has evolved since its inception in 2005 and how it is linked to the new preparation and continuing professional education requirements for school and system leaders that were enacted into law through Act 45 of 2007.
Presenters: Sharon Brumbaugh, special assistant to the secretary of education, PA Department of Education, and PIL program leader; Tom Jones, National Institute for School Leadership; and Dr. Michael Clemens, Region 5 coordinator, and Dr. Jacques Gibble, facilitator – both of Pennsylvania Inspired Leadership program
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