School Leaders Convene in Dallas
For Immediate Release: September 19, 2008
Contact: Barbara Williams, 800.580.8272, ext. 6418. Addional information posted at www.tasa.tasb.org
(Dallas) – More than 8,000 public school trustees, superintendents, and other education leaders will gather September 26-28 at the TASA/TASB Convention in the Dallas Convention Center. The joint gathering for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) will focus on extensive training opportunities; distinguished speakers; and the latest information on public education issues, trends, and innovative programs. One session of note will include John Walsh, the dedicated host of the television program “America’s Most Wanted.” The annual convention is the largest training event of its kind for Texas school trustees and superintendents.
Friday’s first general session will feature Sir Ken Robinson, a leading expert in innovation and human resources. In his session, “Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative,” he will challenge school leaders to create an education system that nurtures creativity rather than undermining it. Robinson was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for his outstanding achievements as a writer, speaker, and leader in creativity, the arts, and education.
On Saturday, keynote Christopher Gardner will address the keys to self-empowerment, beating odds, and breaking cycles. Despite being homeless at one point in his life, Gardner was unwilling to give up on his small son and his dream of financial independence. His hard work and tenacity drove him to succeed despite acute obstacles. His amazing autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, became a New York Times #1 bestseller and inspiration for the movie starring Will Smith as Gardner.
Walsh, keynote speaker at Sunday’s third general session, will share his fight on behalf of children and all crime victims. His ground-breaking program has helped take down nearly 1,000 dangerous fugitives in the past 20 years. A best-selling author, Walsh recently teamed up with the creator of Baby Einstein, Julie Clark, to create a series of DVDs called the Safe Side, lauded as exceptional resources for parents and kids in dealing with predators in the real world and online.
Distinguished lectures will begin Friday with Marco Torres, a teacher, filmmaker, media coach, and photographer. He also is education technology director for San Fernando High School, one of the largest urban high schools in Los Angeles. His presentation, “The Revenge of the Right Brain in Schools,” will explore his success in empowering students to celebrate their culture using multimedia tools.
“The Changing Face of the Texas Labor Market” will be the focus of Saturday’s first distinguished lecture. Richard Froeschle, deputy director of Labor Market and Career Information for the Texas Workforce Commission, will share his expertise on education and workforce planning. His specialties include regional economic analysis and the development and interpretation of labor market information.
Closing out the distinguished lectures late Saturday will be Robert Scott, who will present an overview of “The State of Public Schools in Texas.” Scott, commissioner of education with the Texas Education Agency, oversees the state’s 1,200 school districts and charter schools. He has worked in the public education policy arena for many years, serving as a policy advisor to several commissioners, the Texas Senate, and U.S House of Representatives.
Other convention highlights will include announcement of the Outstanding School Board at Saturday’s second general session and Superintendent of the Year at the third general session on Sunday.