May 6, 2008
Get your learnin' onOctober will be here before you know it and along with that comes NSBA's T+L Conference. Registration opened today for what promises to be a conference chock full of great learning opportunities.
Held in Seattle from October 28-30, this year's conference boasts an impressive lineup, including keynote addresses from Stanford University professor and futurist Paul Saffo; education “revolutionary” Joe Caruso; and educator David Warlick.
You can read all about it on the T+L web site and in NSBA's press release.
We're also looking for leaders in education technology to be recognized as the latest group of "20 to Watch". You can learn more about it and submit an application here. Check out last year's group here.
Posted at 1:05 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
April 22, 2008
The way it's supposed to beBoardBuzz is always happy to have the media on our side, and especially on the side of school board members. That's why we couldn't help but enjoy this article that came to us from the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.
The reporter was doing a little digging into the school district's attendance at NSBA's Annual Conference earlier this month, and what he found was definitely educational.
Good training workshops can remind professionals why they do what they do and inject them with new ideas. Folks get too comfortable and too cynical and become predictable in their jobs when they never undergo training.So, I don’t begrudge the nine members of the county school board and Superintendent Bill Harrison for taking a junket to Orlando, Fla., that must have been positively refreshing. I’m a degree or two less thrilled that the bill taxpayers footed came to $21,000, which seems expensive for 10 people.
To see what you and I paid for, I let my fingers do the walking over to the official Web site for the 2008 Annual Conference for the National School Boards Association. I was surprised to find that the presentations for many of the sessions were available for download.
A session that caught my attention was titled “Handling Media Inquiries With Nerves of Steel” presented by Tim Carroll, the public relations person for a Texas school district, and Rich Bagin, director of the National School Public Relations Association.
Not only does this reporter get that school board members need and should take advantage of professional development, but he also did his homework to understand just what the school board members were learning in Orlando.
Allen and Bagin include a piece of advice that works in nearly all arenas, from politics to marriage:“Think before you speak.”
I called school board member Kim Fisher to see if she had made it to the session on media inquiries.
She called me back promptly and answered honestly that she had not.
“That was one of the main ones I wanted to go to,” she said, but the shuttle between where she was staying and the conference ran late.
“By the time I got there, they were at capacity. It was popular.”
Fisher said she did not think any of the board members were able to make that session, but said it was a great conference. She said she planned to share with teachers and staff members ideas she picked up from the NASA Educator Resource Center at the Kennedy Space Center.
“There’s so much out there for our teachers.”
I noticed Fisher used no jargon. I can’t know whether she thought before she spoke, but she seemed to answer my questions with quite the nerves of steel.
Not only did the reporter do his homework, but the school board member did hers. She attended the conference with her district in mind and worked hard to ensure that her district's money wasn't wasted. If BoardBuzz were going to write a textbook, this story would be in it!
Posted at 9:39 AM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
April 9, 2008
What it's all aboutIt does BoardBuzz's heart good when we see things like this recent opinion piece in the Post-Bulletin (Minn.). School board member Diane Hermann Blakley discusses the importance of community engagement and 21st century skills in her editorial.
I recently had the pleasure of attending the National School Board Association Conference in Orlando. This conference helped to assure me that our schools need to teach the core subjects, but must also address the 21st Century Skills.These skills include problem solving, critical thinking, media literacy, global awareness, collaboration skills and civic leadership. The skills students need today are fundamentally different from what was needed 20 years ago.
Teaching our students 21st Century Skills is essential to our nation's economic success. Our nation cannot afford to have ANY of our students not reach their full potential. The demand on our workforce in upcoming years will require all our students to be well taught. This Rochester School Board, along with Superintendent Romain Dallemand, is committed to closing the opportunity gap.
And it sounds like not only are they committed to their students, but to their community too.
We need to engage all of our youth in their communities and engage adults in the lives of our youth. We as a school board are working to engage students into becoming productive citizens within our community and our country.Parental and community involvement is the key to this process. Parents need to find the time to spend quality time with their children. Positive adult-child interaction increases student achievement, reduces substance abuse, creates responsibility, and respect.
Engaging the community in the public schools is not a new idea, but it certainly a critical one. And BoardBuzz thinks that Blakley sums it up best when she says, "Every child is a gift to our community. ALL children can learn, and with the leadership of our schools, parents, and community, we can make this happen." We couldn't agree more!
Posted at 12:00 PM | Link to this story | Comments (1)
April 7, 2008
The Buzz is back!BoardBuzz is back from Orlando! We learned a lot and were especially impressed with our conference bloggers!
If you didn't make it over to the Conference Blog during our stint over there, be sure to check it out. The guest bloggers were amazing and really gave a full perspective of the conference. You can also get highlights from the conference in NSBA's Conference Daily newspaper.
Already jonesing for next year's conference? Think you've got what it takes to share your insights with school board members from all over the country? Why not submit a proposal to present at the conference?
Posted at 4:00 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 27, 2008
Orlando here we come!BoardBuzz is hitting the road starting tomorrow (Friday). We'll be at NSBA's Annual Conference (we may have mentioned it once or twice) in Orlando, so we'll be off for a while. But never fear -- the Annual Conference Blog will scratch your blogging itch. We've got guest bloggers, including school board members from all over the country, contributing, so be sure and mosey on over there and see what's going on. And be sure to leave your comments . . .
And we'll be back here on April 7.
Posted at 3:38 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
Blog all about itBoardBuzz loves our blogging school board member friends. And as we prepare to head off to NSBA's Annual Conference in Orlando, there are a few of them that are taking their shows on the road.
Our old friend Andrew Mizsak, from Ohio, who blogged his way through the FRN Conference in February, is back and blogging the NSBA Conference start to finish. He'll also appear as a guest blogger on our Annual Conference Blog.
This post is all about blogging school board members, and promises some attention at the conference as well. And this school board member from Oregon pledges to "make sure the information comes back to the district."
In the past we've offered tips for sharing your Conference experience once you get back to your school district (and be sure to LISTEN to a message from Anne Bryant, NSBA's executive director with more on the subject), and it seems that now it's time to add blogging to the list. What better way to share what's happening as it happens than through the magic of the Internet?
And for more blogging school board members and all the conference happenings, do check out the Annual Conference Blog, because after today, that's where we'll be.
Posted at 11:33 AM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 20, 2008
NSBA Conference offers two online discussion topicsNSBA will host two lively online discussions during the Annual Conference in Orlando.
The Tipping Point on School Vouchers: Has Time Run Out for the Privatization Movement? Although well funded and with a vocal, albeit small network of supporters, the school voucher movement has run into troubles of late. From another crushing defeat of vouchers by voters in Utah, to a slew of recent research debunking private schools’ purported superiority in raising student achievement, to cautionary words from longtime voucher advocates downplaying vouchers’ alleged competitive benefits for public education, it has been a rough stretch for proponents of spending taxpayer dollars on private school tuition. While voucher proposals remain on the table in some states and in Congress, have the best opportunities for enacting new programs passed?Join NSBA Director of Federal Affairs Marcus Egan for an online discussion Sunday, March 30 at 1 p.m. ET to get the latest information on research, legislation and the political landscape impacting vouchers. You can submit a question in advance or log in to the discussion as it happens.
Straight Talk on Tobacco Most people assume that all schools are completely tobacco free – it just seems to make too much sense not to be true! Unfortunately, the truth is more complicated than that, and according to the latest available (school health data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 58 percent of states, 55.4 percent of districts, and 63.6 percent of schools prohibit all tobacco use in all locations at all times. So, there is plenty of room for improvement in making all schools tobacco-free!Join NSBA school health experts, Karen Lewis and Brenda Greene for an online discussion Monday, March 31, at 12:45 ET, to get the full scoop on tobacco free schools and to learn more about what school districts can do to make campuses tobacco free.You can submit a question in advance or log in and watch as the discussion unfolds.
Be sure to check it out! And be sure to visit the Annual Conference blog, which will detail all the events of the conference as they happen.
Posted at 3:12 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 19, 2008
Florida, here we come!BoardBuzz is getting ready to head off to Orlando for NSBA's Annual Conference. It promises to be chock full of all kinds of great programming and activities.
For all the scoop on the conference, be sure to check out the Annual Conference Blog, which will be updated daily next week and through the end of the conference with all the latest on the happenings at the conference. Not to mention, our list of guest bloggers is growing and their experiences will be chronicled on the blog too. It's definitely worth a read! Check it out!
Posted at 5:33 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 10, 2008
Lifelong learningBoardBuzz was thinking this weekend, as we prepare for NSBA's Annual Conference in Orlando, just how valuable attendance at the conference is. Sure, the General Session speakers, like Sandra Day O'Connor, Garrison Keillor, Sidney Poitier, and Jim Lehrer are enlightening and inspiring, but conference attendance is so much more than that.
The opportunity to meet other school board members and school district administrators, talk about challenges and opportunities, and share ideas is certainly another exciting perk. When else do you find so many school board members in one place? On top of that, the Exhibit Hall is chock full of ways for school districts to learn, grow, and even save money (and with financial times being tight these days, who doesn't want to save a little?).
Attending sessions is probably one of the best ways to get the most out of your conference experience. And this year is no exception. You can use the online conference planner to browse through all of the sessions and even plan an itinerary for yourself prior to your arrival in Orlando.
And the learning doesn't have to stop once you've returned to your district. In fact, it shouldn't stop! Be sure to share your conference experience with fellow board members, school district staff, parents, and your community. They've invested in your attendance and deserve to know just how well your time was spent. For some more tips on how to share your conference experience back at home, click here.
Posted at 12:26 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 6, 2008
The attendee of tomorrow?BoardBuzz is a fan of Will Richardson and truly enjoys reading Weblogg-ed. His recent entry, The Ultimate Conference Attendee, grabbed our attention. He poses the question of what future conference organizer will get smart and allow attendees who only:
- Have their own Ustream channels and broadcast live facial reactions of attendees as the session is in progress
- Can Tweet out the best quotes, engage in lively back channel repartee, and live blog the session to their own sites at the same time
- Create a VoiceThread story of the presentation within 10 minutes of finish by incorporating photos taken during the session and uploaded to Flickr, adding voice over narration to contextualize the event, and soliciting video comments from virtual attendees
- Put together a wiki page for the session that collects dozens of various RSS feeds compiled from keyword and tag searches on the presenter’s name, the general topic, del.icio.us bookmarks, YouTube videos and more
- Create a Google Map that identifies where all of the virtual attendees live and helps them upload photos of themselves watching the UStreamed, Tweeted, VoiceThreaded, wikied presentation in progress.
- Conduct a live Skype call with other experts who challenge the ideas being presented and scream out provocative and borderline insulting questions
- Have their own conference space in Second Life where live video and audio of presentation is being streamed and where they have organized a post session social featuring virtual local microbrews and coffees
BoardBuzz longs for the day when our conference attendees are so involved and connected. It's already second nature to the youth we're educating. Maybe someday the whole education community will catch on. Will this Web 2.0 phenomenon be too much? Maybe, but we look forward to the tidal wave of attendee-generated content. Leave a comment and tell us what you think the conference of the future will look like.
Have we mentioned we're recruiting bloggers for our Annual Conference in Orlando?
Posted at 4:18 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
March 5, 2008
Calling out the blogsAre you an admirer of BoardBuzz? Have you got something to say? Do you wish you could join the ranks of BoardBuzz yourself? Now's your chance! It's that time of year again -- BoardBuzz is in search of a few good bloggers for NSBA's Annual Conference.
You, yes YOU, can join NSBA staff and others as a guest blogger and share your pearls of wisdom with conference attendees and the world by participating in the conference blog! And for participating you will receive the accolades of thousands, as well your very own black ribbon that says “Blogger” that you can attach to your name badge (but don't blame us if you get mobbed by legions of admirers)! But wait, there’s more! If you ACT NOW you will also get to see your name in lights (okay, maybe not lights, but in tiny little print next to your blog entry). Add to the conference experience and contribute to the blog!
Sound exciting? Simply contact Christina Gordon at cgordon@nsba.org to sign up as a guest blogger at NSBA's Annual Conference! And you too will become a V.I.B. (Very Important Blogger)!
Posted at 1:52 AM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
February 26, 2008
We love a good cause!Lace up your sneakers and be sure to pack your sweats for the 8th Annual National School Boards Foundation 5K Run/Walk is set to take place at NSBA's Annual Conference in Orlando. That's right, this perennial favorite will be back for all the heart-pumping fun of past years.
For all you early risers and go-getters, the race will be held on March 30, at 7:30 a.m., with an awards ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The scenic route this year will take you through Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake. Shuttle buses will be available from the Orange County Convention Center.
You must register in advance, but registration is easy. Try it online through midnight, March 27, or at the NSBF 5K Booth in the west registration concourse of Convention Center at the conference. The fee for registration is $40, but children under 13 can participate for free! Sounds like a great idea to us!
For more information, click here. To register, click here.
Posted at 4:39 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
January 4, 2008
A little planning goes a long wayBoardBuzz knows that the new year just started, but NSBA's Annual Conference will be here before you know it. And there's no time like the present to start planning all the sessions and activities you'll be taking in while in Orlando.
With Pre-Conference workshops beginning on Friday, March 28 and sessions going through April 1, the conference will be chock full of learning opportunities. And NSBA has the perfect tool for you to use in order to maximize your conference experience -- the Online Conference Planner.
The Online Conference Planner, which is now live, allows you to browse and select sessions of interest and plan and print your itinerary in advance. What could be better than that? And be sure to keep checking the conference Web site to get the latest updates. You can even sign up for the e-newsletter to get the latest news delivered right to your inbox.
Posted at 2:14 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
November 12, 2007
Sidney Poitier joins already stellar conference line upNSBA has just announced that Sidney Poitier will join the line up of speakers for NSBA's 2008 Annual Conference in Orlando. The Oscar-winning actor will share his insights and experiences with attendees at the General Session on Sunday, March 30.
With a 50-year career in acting and directing, Poitier is one of America's most respected and honored entertainers. His recent memoir, The Measure of a Man, was a national best-seller and an Oprah Winfrey Book Club selection. Poitier joins the strong schedule of 2008 General Session speakers that includes Sandra Day O'Connor, Jim Lehrer, and Garrison Keillor.
Posted at 12:03 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
October 22, 2007
NSBA 2008 Annual Conference lines up top speakersNSBA has announced a terrific speaker lineup for the 2008 Annual Conference in Orlando. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, news anchor and author Jim Lehrer, and radioman Garrison Keillor will headline the general sessions at this year's conference.
O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court, was called one of the world's most powerful women by Forbes magazine. Applying her wisdom on a case-by-case basis, she provided the decisive swing vote on many important issues of our time.
Lehrer is the host of Newshour with Jim Lehrer and the author of 16 novels, two memoirs, and three plays. He has been awarded numerous awards, including the 1999 National Humanities Medal presented by former President and First Lady Clinton. Also in 1999, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
Keillor began his radio career as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. He went to work for Minnesota Public Radio in 1969, and on July 6, 1976 he hosted the first broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion in St. Paul. More than 3 million listeners on more than 450 public radio stations hear the show each week.
In addition to these powerful speakers, the conference will also host Lee Woodruff during the popular Fellowship session. Woodruff and her husband Bob are the authors of In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, the best-selling book about their family's difficult journey during Bob's critical injury in Iraq while anchoring for ABC News.
Check the conference site frequently for all the latest updates. You can also register for the e-newsletter and get updates e-mailed directly to your inbox.
Posted at 5:22 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
September 4, 2007
Live! From Alexandria, it's conference registration!You know what they say about the early bird catching the worm? In this case, the early bird gets a fantastic discount to NSBA's Annual Conference in Orlando.
Conference registration is now open, and for those eager beavers, now through December 28, you can take advantage of early bird registration. Even better is the news for National Affiliate districts, which can receive an additional 20 percent in discount. Not a National Affiliate? Click here to learn more about how to join.
There are four easy ways for you to register for the conference:
Online — NSBA's secure server allows you to pay by credit card or purchase order.
By Phone — Call us at (800) 950-6722 and press option "1." Be sure to have your payment information ready.
By Fax — Send the completed registration form to NSBA at (703) 519-6497 and address your fax "ATTN: Conference Registration." Be sure to include your payment information.
By Mail — Send your completed registration form with a check, purchase order, or credit card information to: NSBA, P.O. Box 1807, Merrifield, VA 22116-8007.
Housing registration opens October 2. Already confirmed is former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who will give a keynote address at the opening general session. So what are you waiting for?
Posted at 4:52 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
August 23, 2007
Creativity and innovation take center stage at T+L
NSBA's T+L Conference will focus on creativity and innovation this year. The conference, which will be hosted at Nashville's Opryland from October 17-19, boasts an impressive agenda highlighting keynote addresses from Lyn Heward, the creative force behind Cirque du Soleil; Dr. Peter Diamandis, the founder and chair of the X Prize Foundation who helped get the first private space craft into orbit; and “education evangelist” and 21st century skills champion, Ian Jukes.
T+L, which stands for Technology + Learning, offers the one-of-a-kind opportunity for all levels of school district staff to come together to explore how new technology tools are effectively used across a district in classrooms, administrative applications, parental engagement, and community outreach to improve student achievement. This year’s conference sessions and speakers have a special focus on creativity and innovation, and demonstrate how that translates to the education world.
You can lean more about the conference, view the conference schedule, and register by going to the T+L Conference Web site. You can also read the press release here.
Posted at 3:56 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
August 21, 2007
NSBA's Annual Conference site is fresh!For those of you who just can't wait to satisfy your NSBA Annual Conference jones, the conference site is now live with all the latest information. The conference will be held March 29-April 1, 2008 (no foolin'). What's more, conference registration begins September 4, and housing reservations open up October 2.
That's right, the conference will be here before you know it, and the upcoming location of Orlando will not disappoint. Already confirmed to speak is former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, at the opening general session. Be sure to sign up for the conference e-newsletter, so you can remain informed on all the latest and greatest conference updates.
Posted at 5:08 PM | Link to this story | Comments (0)
BoardBuzz Feed
