ACSA’s annual Leadership Summit features seminars, workshops and networking activities that allow attendees to learn the latest in the field, while interacting with colleagues from across the state.
This year’s Leadership Summit, to be held in Sacramento Nov. 5-7, also features a number of special events to complement the traditional conference format.
One such event is the President’s Welcome Dessert and Coffee Reception, set for Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 9-11 p.m. ACSA President Chuck Weis and the Leadership Summit Planning Committee will host the reception to start the summit on a “sweet” note. Best of all, this event is free to conference attendees.
Another special event is the Technology Playroom, to be held Thursday, Nov. 5 and Friday, Nov. 6, during bookstore hours. New this year, the Technology Playroom will feature demonstrations of products and services by the event’s technology sponsors. The playroom will feature hands-on opportunities for attendees to see education technology in action, and it is also free to attendees.
Several technology sessions will also be offered by ACSA’s special technology sponsor partners. ACSA’s partners at CTAP, SETS and CUE have organized special 20-minute demonstrations on a variety of technology topics that will run continuously during the summit in the Technology Playroom. These will cover topics such as iPhoto, Google mobile, iChat and social networking tools.
In addition, a technology and robotics lab will showcase live student technology. It features the types of technology local students are implementing in their classrooms.
A special networking session is the Summit Kick-Off Reception and Dance, to be held Thursday, Nov. 5 from 9-11 p.m. Free to conference attendees, the dance, sponsored by ACSA’s Member Services Committee, allows attendees to relax with friends and dance the night away.
Friday morning, Nov. 6, the Women’s Leadership Breakfast will highlight the role and contributions of leaders in public education. ACSA recognizes the needs of both men and women administrators are similar when it comes to major issues of reform in public education, but there can also be very diverse needs. Open to everyone, this event is $30 per person.
Friday night, President Weis will host the Awards Presentation. This popular event honors ACSA’s distinguished award winners and applauds their contributions on behalf of California’s students. The President’s Celebration Dinner and Dance will immediately follow. There is a $55 fee for this event.
Saturday morning, superintendents from across the state are invited to a Superintendents Breakfast Conversation. This is a unique opportunity to discuss issues facing superintendents and share thoughts and ideas. Possible topics include local control to revenue limits and how to have the budget be a quantitative reflection of qualitative priorities. There is a $30 fee for this event.
Other special events include four luncheons hosted by notable education speakers. One such luncheon, set for Thursday, Nov. 5, features Ako Kambon, president of Visionary Leaders Institute.
A dynamic, versatile motivational speaker and trainer, Kambon is a great believer in the efficacy of public-private partnerships and a strong advocate for the establishment of policies, programs and procedures that engage parents in the education of their children. There is a $37 fee for this luncheon.
Another Friday luncheon features Eugene García, vice president, Education Partnerships, Curriculum and Instruction at the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education, Arizona State University.
García has published extensively in the area of language teaching and bilingual development. He is currently chairing the National Task Force on Early Childhood Education for Hispanics and is conducting research funded by the National Science Foundation in the areas of effective schooling for linguistically and culturally diverse student populations. Sponsored by ACSA’s Equity, Achievement and Diversity for Success Committee, there is a $37 fee for this luncheon.
Another notable luncheon speaker is Lynell Burmark, former teacher and administrator. Burmark’s award-winning book, “Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn,” is a widely adopted textbook for teacher education and instructional technology programs. Energetic, encouraging, often humorous yet serious about her content, Burmark considers the highest praise to be “You practice what you preach!” Sponsored by ACSA’s Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability Council, there is a $37 fee for this luncheon.
Another featured luncheon speaker is Ted Smith of The MIND Research Institute.
A prominent player in the technology industry since 1960, Smith was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Institute of American Entrepreneurs in 1987. Until recently he was chair of the UC Irvine Foundation and is currently chair of its Nominating Committee.
He is at the forefront of leading MIND’s National Math Initiative Project, a public-private partnership designed to impact mathematics achievement, particularly in low performing schools. In 2009-10 MIND will fund grants supporting more than 125,000 students across the country with the vision of extending that to more than 500,000 students in the next three years.
Also speaking from MIND will be Andrew Coulson, president of the Education Division and responsible for the day-to-day operations of all matters related to expansion and implementation in the schools, marketing/public relations and staff management. He brings 15 years of experience in operations, quality and management of engineering and high tech business, transferring technology from research and development to production. He also brings experience as the education program officer for a major Orange County foundation. There is a $37 fee for this luncheon.
For more information on any of this year’s special events, look for the full brochure in the mail or click here for registration information online.