EVENT:	Workshop 2012
DATE:	October 23-25, 2012
LOCATION:	Atlantic City Convention Center
SPONSORS:	New Jersey School Boards Association New Jersey Association of School Administrators New Jersey Association of School Business Officials
CONTACTS:	Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org) (609) 278-5202 – NJSBA office (609) 449-3945 – Workshop newsroom (10/23-10/24) (609) 306-5371 – Frank Belluscio cell (609) 477-6875 – Mike Yaple cell

Approximately 5,000 local school board members, school administrators, charter school trustees and educational professionals will attend Workshop 2012, "Partners in Student Success," the annual training conference for the state's public school leaders, October 23-25.  The event will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Highlights include—

• 150 Training and Information Sessions. Workshop will provide school board members and administrators with training and information on topics ranging from school reform and financial sustainability to school law, labor relations, policy-setting and curriculum. All sessions will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center. (Selected programs are described below.)
• A Conversation with the Commissioner.  New Jersey's chief education officer, Chris Cerf, will address initiatives ranging from new methods of teacher evaluation to turning around underperforming schools.  (The session will take place on Tuesday, October 23 at 1 p.m.  See below.)
• The National 9/11Flag.  The 20-by-30.5-foot flag was destroyed during the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.  Since 2008, it has been stitched back together as it toured the United States, starting with a major effort by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kansas. Materials used in the flag's restoration include a piece of the flag that Abraham Lincoln was laid on after he was shot at Ford's Theater.  The 9/11 flag will be on display in the Atlantic City Convention Center Exhibit Hall on Tuesday, October 23.  It is presented through the 9/12 Generation Project, which has designed curriculum to teach students about the September 11 attacks.  (Workshop will include a program on the 9/12 Generation Project on Wednesday morning, October 24.  See below.)

Tuesday, October 23

A Plan for Raising Student AchievementA representative of the Teaneck Public Schools will address effective strategies for closing the economic and racial/ethnic achievement gaps.
Room 415, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Learning from the Statewide Teacher Evaluation PilotsThis fall, New Jersey school districts are taking preliminary steps to implement new performance-based teacher evaluation systems.  The New Jersey Department of Education's Office of Evaluation will provide strategies to build staff and community support, develop quality training and build responsibility for student learning.  Room 419, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Social Media: The Good, the Bad and the UglyA school attorney and a school board president will discuss the legal implications involved in the use and the misuse of social media.  Cooper Levenson Learning Lab, 10-10:30 a.m. (Repeated Wednesday, 2:15-2:45 p.m.)

Taking the Intimidation Out of Anti-Bullying Proceedings: The Role of the Board Member A superintendent and two school attorneys will discuss solutions to problems districts face in scheduling, hearing and resolving bullying cases.  Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso Learning Lab, 10-10:30 a.m.

School Law Clinic  NJSBA staff attorneys will present an update on recent legal decisions and legislative developments affecting boards of education and charter schools.  PNC Bank Learning Lab, 11-11:30 a.m. (Repeated Tuesday, 3-3:30 p.m., in the Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso Learning Lab)

New Jersey Education Priorities: A Conversation with the Commissioner New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf will discuss initiatives to close achievement gaps, reduce overregulation, and turn around low-performing schools.  Following his presentation, he will engage in an interview-type discussion with NJSBA's governmental relations director.  TD Bank Theater, 1-2 p.m.

The Sustainable Jersey School Certification Program  NJSBA and the Sustainable Jersey certification program, based at The College of New Jersey, will announce a partnership to create a Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program.  The effort is modeled after the successful program for municipal governments.  The school district program will recognize financial, facility and educational practices that promote the economic and environmental sustainability.  STEM and Sustainability Community presentation area, 1:30-2 p.m.

Lessons Learned from Piloting the New Evaluation SystemRepresentatives of the NJDOE Office of Evaluation and the Ocean City school district will describe successes and challenges in piloting a new teacher evaluation system, as well as strategies for resolving problems.  Room 420, 2:15-3:15 p.m.

Legislative Program: Insights from New Jersey's Governmental Relations Directors The governmental relations directors of major education organizations will provide an "insider's view" on educational policy and legislation.  John Mooney, founding editor of NJ Spotlight, will moderate the discussion.  Speakers represent the NJSBA, the NJEA, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the Garden State Coalition of Schools, the New Jersey Council of Voc-Tech Schools, and the New Jersey Association of Counties.  TD Bank Theater, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights: Connecting the Dots One Year Out Three legal experts—NJSBA's general counsel, a state bar association official and a practicing school attorney—will address the policy implications and goals of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.  Room 410, 2:30-4 p.m.

Common Core State Standards  New Jersey is one of 45 states that have adopted the Common Core Standards in mathematics and language arts.  Lucille Davy, senior advisor for the Hunt Institute, an education reform think tank based at the University of North Carolina, will address major differences with prior state academic standards and ways to effectively implement the new Common Core Standards.  Davy is a former New Jersey education commissioner.  Room 411, 2:30-4 p.m.

Wednesday, October 24

PARCC Assessments  The NJDOE director of assessment will discuss the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a 24-state consortium that is developing K-12 end-of-course assessments aligned to the Common Core Standards.  PARCC assessments will replace New Jersey's current testing program and are scheduled for statewide implementation in 2014-2015.  Room 417, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Response-to-Intervention  An NJSBA policy expert and a charter school lead administrator will discuss how response-to-intervention (or RTI), a method of applying various instructional methods while monitoring results, can improve student learning and reduce special education costs.  Room 418, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

The 9/12 Generation Project  This program offers educators a unique way to teach children about the 9/11 terrorist attacks by focusing on the kind acts that took place on 9/12.  Project founders will address ways to implement the concept through the curriculum, service-learning projects and volunteer programs.  Room 420, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Building an Integrated District-wide Teacher and Principal Evaluation System  NJDOE evaluation specialists will describe how the planned evaluation process for teachers and principals should "inform" each other about effective educational practice.  The session will focus on the principal's role in teacher evaluation and the uses of student achievement data.  Room 416, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Solid Ground or Quicksand: The Board's Role in Student Discipline and Discipline-Related Hearings  NJSBA's legal and policy experts will discuss how school boards handle various types of discipline hearings as well as issues such as access to information, student confidentiality, victim complaints, student discipline appeals and HIB hearings.  Investors Bank Learning Lab, 10-10:30 a.m.
 
ABCs of Finance: Bringing Financial Literacy to the Classroom  Representatives of a Bergen County school district and a major bank will discuss the importance of teaching personal finance to students.  Cooper Levenson Learning Lab, 10-10:30 a.m. (Repeated 1-1:30 p.m. in the Schwartz Simon Edelstein & Celso Learning Lab)

Meet NJSBA's New Executive Director  Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, NJSBA's executive director designee, will describe his vision for the New Jersey School Boards Association and the state's local boards of education.  TD Bank Theater, 10-10:35 a.m.

The Magic of Education  Inspirational speaker Billy Riggs will use humor and the power of illusion to motivate school leaders toward excellence.  He will focus on the core beliefs of school board members and administrators, and how these beliefs can propel each district to a higher level. TD Bank Theater, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Celebration of Curriculum I  Fifteen sessions will offer a view of innovative curriculum in New Jersey school districts.  Sessions include "Applying Special Education Practices in the General Education Classroom" (Clark); "Building School Morale: Acceptance for All" (Cinnaminson); "Assistive Technology Tools at Work in the Classroom" (Warren Township); "Quality Preschool and Kindergarten" (Freehold Borough); "Cost Effective Options for Autism Education Programs" (West Milford); and "Effective Uses of Social Media in the Language Arts Classroom" (Metuchen).  NJSBA Celebrates Success presentation area, 11 a.m.-noon

Celebration of Curriculum II  The afternoon program will provide presentations on 15 other local district programs, ranging from the "iPad Explorer Club" to "Take It Out! Conflict Resolution Center."  NJSBA Celebrates Success presentation area, 1-2 p.m.

Mock Board Meeting  School attorneys play the roles of board members in a scripted presentation about an imaginary board meeting,  A leading expert on school law will serve as moderator, identifying "do's and don'ts" and legal issues.  TD Bank Theater, 1-2 p.m. 

Mock Board Learning Labs School attorneys and school board presidents address the issues of effective governance during seven 30-minute break-out sessions, each repeated once.  Topics will include "Board Member Tweeting and Emailing," "Disciplining Students for the Use of Alcohol and Drugs Off School Grounds," "Public Participation at Board Meetings," and The "TEACH-NJ Act: Tenure, Evaluation and the Revised Dismissal Process."  Learning Lab presentation area, 2:15-3:15 p.m.

Great Schools of New Jersey Roundtable Coordinated by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators, this discussion will highlight successful practices developed in New Jersey's most challenged school districts, including teacher effectiveness, teacher/principal evaluation, curriculum alignment, data-driven decision making, and parental involvement.  Room 303, 2:30-4 p.m.

Meet the Legislators During the "Ask GR" program, members of NJSBA's governmental relations staff will discuss current educational issues before the state Legislature with state Senators Jeff Van Drew and Jim Whelan and Assemblyman David Wolfe, a member of the Assembly Education Committee.  Room 404, 3-4 p.m.

How Regional Achievement Centers Can Support Districts with Priority/Focus Schools  NJDOE officials will describe how the six Regional Achievement Centers will lead the state's efforts to turn around persistently underperforming schools and those with troubling achievement gaps.  They will also discuss the partnerships among the district, its board of education and parents that are necessary to increase student achievement.  Room 420, 3-4 p.m.

Thursday, October 25

The final day of Workshop will be generally devoted to school board member training required under the School District Accountability Act.  In addition, the annual School Law Forum will take place.  The Exhibit Hall will be closed on Oct. 25.

Program registration for Workshop 2012 is free for credentialed representatives of the news media.  To register or to obtain further information, contact Ann Marie Smith of the NJSBA Communications Department at (609) 278-5209 or amsmith@njsba.org.