Harvey Alston
Kick-Off Dinner*
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.

Be the ‘Best!’

Harvey Alston tells every audience: Believe in yourself and don’t hesitate to let others know that you are great! Expand your mind and continue to grow, for you always will be the star of the show. Strive to achieve excellence in all that you do. Think before you act, work before you rest, and let the world know that you are the “BEST.”

Among the things you can do to reach these goals:

• Apply effective strategies and ideas on how to become the best.
• Demonstrate ways to be more effective as leaders.
• Identify school challenges and ways to handle them.
• Develop a specific goal-setting strategy.
• Work more effectively as members of a team.
• Enhance communication and listening skills.
• Apply effective strategies and ideas on how to be a trailblazer.

Rudy Crew
Opening Session
Wednesday, Oct. 15
8:30 a.m.

The Education Conversation
We Must Have –
Schooling, Globalization and Urban America

For years now, we have been inching along using myriad strategies and theories by which to define and ultimately curb low-performing schools across the country, particularly in poor and urban communities. Some have deeply informed the practice of teaching and learning; some have been a waste of time, effort and money. As NCLB is considered for reauthorization, questions must be raised as to how another cycle of testing for accountability will support classroom teachers and their students to avoid falling further behind in the nation and in the world. Are there other ways to frame and respond to these issues in the next decade? And what happens to these children and to us as a nation if we don’t?

Dr. Lorraine Monroe
School Leadership Banquet
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

The Monroe Doctrine

A nationally acclaimed urban educator featured on “60 Minutes,” Dr. Lorraine Monroe has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in New York public schools. She is the author of “Nothing’s Impossible,” which details her work as principal of the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem, a widely hailed model of effective inner city education. She currently is director of the School Leadership Academy, a new program to teach strategies for innovation and excellence to principals and school administrators.

Monroe believes that communities can show their love for their children by providing the best schools and best educational opportunities. They also must acknowledge that children today are competing with other students across the country and around the world.

Monroe stresses the importance of being mentors and coaches in children’s lives and helping them discover what their passion in life is and how to realize their dreams. School board members, administrators, parents and community leaders all share the responsibility in creating a nurturing environment for our children.

Sam “The Chalk Man” Glenn
Closing Session
Friday, Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m.

A Kick in the Attitude

This program is designed to rekindle your school district’s best attitude with humor, insight and a creative art presentation. It’s not just about having a positive attitude – it’s about putting that attitude into action! Transform into energized and empowered attitude kickers! An attitude kicker recognizes that attitude is significant in creating success personally and professionally. Sometimes life has a way of knocking the kick out of us, and that “kick” is our enthusiasm, focus, sense of humor and resilience. This program will revive your kick, your best attitude.