Global Experts Headline Pearson’s National Summit on School Improvement
Sir Michael Barber and Michael Fullan to Lead Conference for Educators on Implementing Sustainable Systemwide Change
Orlando, FL – January 30, 2012 – Sir Michael Barber and Michael Fullan, renowned global experts on school leadership, change management and implementing sustainable systemwide change, will deliver the keynote address at Pearson’s National Summit on School Improvement February 9-11 in Orlando.
Barber, Pearson’s Chief Education Advisor and former Advisor to United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Fullan, Special Advisor to the Premier and Minister of Education in Ontario, Canada, will share the stage in addressing The Importance of Leadership, Collective Capacity, and Delivery Practices for Implementing Sustainable Schoolwide and Systemwide Improvement. Each will discuss his latest research findings, exploring the connections between the skills and practices of successful leaders and the development and sustainability of positive change in schoolwide and districtwide improvement systems.
In commenting on the upcomingSummit, Barber said, “To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we need much higher performing education systems the world over, including in theUS. Young people inAmericawill only find fulfillment in their lives if they can be productive in the workplace and community. This means we need to apply systematically across the US all that we know about what makes education systems effective—and we know a lot. Gone are the times when we just had to guess! We know what works; now we need the courage and skill to apply that knowledge. This is what the session will be about.”
And in advance of his participation in the conference, Fullan noted, “I very much look forward to working with you on School, District and System improvement. We have learned a great deal inOntarioand acrossNorth Americaabout strategies that serve to increase student achievement, including raising the bar and closing the gap. There is an urgent need to put this knowledge into greater use.”
Alison Wagner, President of Pearson’s School Achievement Services, said, “We are extremely fortunate to offer educators here in the USthe opportunity to hear the wisdom of Sir Michael Barber and Michael Fullan, whose work so closely aligns with our own goals. Their presence at our National Summit really heralds Pearson’s commitment to building capacity and sustainable results with district and school leaders around the country and our shared mission of ensuring that all students become college- and career-ready.”
Wagner noted that Pearson will be introducing its new School Improvement Model (SIM) at the conference.
Other experts leading conference discussions include:
- Children’s Rightsand Literacy Advocate, Pam Allyn, will be examining Common Core State Standards as a lever and a tool for transforming classroom life as states transition to fewer, higher standards to ensure that students are college- and career-ready. Allyn is Executive Director and founder of LitWorld, a global organization advocating for children’s rights as readers, writers and learners. She is also the Executive Director and founder of LitLife, a national organization dedicated to school improvement.
- Carrie Heath Phillips, Program Director, Common Core Standards, Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), will lead discussions addressing the new Assessments, including the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Phillips will discuss how the two assessment consortia are alike and different, what educators can expect to see in the new assessments, and how they can prepare their school or district for these new assessments.
The conference also includes case study and best practices in school improvement seminars presented by current educators, sessions on implementing the Common Core effectively as well as large session conversations and presentations focused on educator effectiveness, continuous improvement, and increasing teacher engagement. Educator effectiveness sessions will include the latest approaches and technologies for evaluating and collecting classroom observation data to inform decision making. These sessions will address how to tie data directly to a personalized plan for ongoing professional development that includes access to a vast library of on-demand, cloud-based, in-classroom professional development videos as well as social media tools that allow for online collaboration around best practices and lesson modeling.
More than 250 school officials from around the nation have already registered to attend the conference which will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott.
To register and view the conference agenda, visithttps://secure.lenos.com/lenos/pearson/NationalSummit2012/home.htm.
About Pearson
Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, has as its mission to work side-by-side with states, districts, teachers, students and parents to ensure that every child is prepared for college and career (NYSE: PSO). For more information, go to www.schoolimprovementus@pearson.com andwww.pearsonschoolimprovement.com.
Contact:
kate.miller@pearson.com- 1.800.745.8489
