School administrators, board members and other education specialists have a chance to share their expertise with their colleagues by presenting a program at Workshop 2012. Workshop – to be held Oct. 23-25 at the Atlantic City Convention Center – is the premier conference for New Jersey school board members and administrators, offering approximately 200 training programs.

The deadline for receiving program submissions is March 12. 

The 2012 Workshop theme, "Partners in Student Success," celebrates the collaboration among education leaders, businesses, non-profits, educators and communities – working together to ensure a strong future for New Jersey's children.

Workshop 2012 provides multiple forms of training and program opportunities that will be placed in topic “strands,” such as legal/policy, budget/finance, and shared services strands.  Submissions should indicate the strand that the program best fits into. Strands are named in the program proposal form.

The various program offerings include:

• Action Labs: The Action Lab format is a smaller-classroom environment that emphasizes the application of specific skills by actively involving participants.  Action Labs are 90 minutes long and are designed for no more than 48 participants. The majority of that time must be devoted to hands-on tasks directed by presenters.  On the Program Proposal Form, program applicants should clearly describe the program, detail the objectives, and include a general list of activities, so that NJSBA will be able to assess how participants will enrich their skills. 

• Group Sessions: Presenters at Group Sessions address up to 200 attendees on an array of topics such as best practices, contrasting viewpoints on educational issues, and educational philosophy. The sessions are scheduled for 60 minutes, and at least a quarter of the time should be devoted to questions and answers.  Group Sessions may have a single speaker, a panel, a debate or some other program structure. These training opportunities are limited to three presenters.  If applicants who want to give a Group Session envision having more than one presenter, the Program Proposal Form should include all of the required information for each individual.  Applicants should clearly describe the program and detail the objectives so that the selection committee will be able to assess how the attendees will benefit. Applicants who are from a company or non-profit organization are advised that the company or non-profit must be a Workshop sponsor.

• Celebration of Curriculum: One of the most successful activities of Workshop is the Celebration of Curriculum. This activity consists of 30-minute roundtable presentations that are given twice during an hour-long time slot, as presenters share their program success and describe successful curriculums. Examples of programs from previous Workshops include Comprehensive Solutions for Special Education Needs, The Buddy Class Program, Technology in the Classroom, and Infusing 21st Century Skills in Problem-Based Learning Units.

• Public Relations Mini-Workshop: These 30-minute roundtable presentations are given twice during an hour-long time slot.  Participants acquire information on numerous public relations topics, including media relations, involving parents and senior citizens in the schools, crisis communications, passing bond proposals and budgets, and community engagement.

Those submitting proposals will be notified of NJSBA’s decision in mid-June. Prospective presenters are encouraged to submit their Workshop Program Proposal Form as soon as possible. All program submissions will receive equal consideration.

For more information, contact Diane Morris by email or by calling (609) 278-5276.