To let us prepare supplies, please register your desire to attend by e-mailing: overby_a@utpb.edu

The West Texas P-16 Council invites the professional education community to attend a special event that supports the College and Career Readiness Standards across the curriculum as well as intervention methods for reading and math. The sessions are multi level and offer professional development credit. Presenters are from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin and the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at UT Austin. The College and Career Readiness Initiative (CCRI) is focused on preparing students for academic readiness in grades 4-12 and in the freshman and sophomore levels of college.

Session Information

• Response to Intervention: a multi level K-12 session
• Academic Vocabulary: an integrated approach to vocabulary development that implements the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRI) into the curriculum
• The ELPS: an overview of the CCRI English Language Standards and strategies to embed them into the curriculum
• Sheltered English: an explanation of Sheltered English and  strategies designed to enhance reading, writing, listening comprehension for ELL students

West Texas Area

February is here!  That can only mean that it is time for College Goal Sunday!

Location: Howard College – Practical Arts Building – Steps Lab

Date: Sunday, February 21^st 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

College Goal Sunday is open to all college-bound students regardless of age.  Whether a traditional student right out of high school or an adult who is returning or pursuing higher education for the first time; College Goal Sunday will help you complete the FAFSA accurately and on time.  Dependent students (24 or under) should bring a parent or legal guardian.  College and Council Representatives will be available to assist you with your applications and answer your questions.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

What to Bring With You

• List of colleges/universities the student is considering attending
• Student’s driver’s license number
• Student’s alien registration card, if the student is a legal permanent resident
• Student and Parents’ Pin number for FAFSA application
• Student and Parents’ Social Security Number
• Student and Parents’ W-2 forms and other records of money earned in 2009
• Student and Parents’2009 Federal Income Tax Return
• Students and Parents 2009 untaxed income records

For more information, contact Rebecca Villanueava @ 432-264-5608

September 21^st 4:00 p.m. UTPB Library Lecture Hall LL01.  Jim Nelson, Executive Director of AVID will be presenting “College Begins at Elementary School – We are all in this Together”

September 29^th 11:30-1:30, Odessa Country Club, Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D. ,Chancellor, the University of Texas System.

Special points of interest include:

• Dr. Willard Daggett
• Dr. John Kuglin
• Sam Zigrossi
• AVID Principals & Teachers
• Russell & Lin Jones
• Matt Orem
• Dr. Gail Platt
• Technology Presentations
• and much more

This is a conference you don’t want to miss. Be sure to mark your Calendars for June 18, 2009. Registration is $25.

Click Here to Register

Dr. Willard (Bill) Daggett, founder of the International Center for Leadership in Education is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems Dr. Daggen towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. We are thrilled to have a person of his stature to start the conference with a keynote address and offer a follow up breakout session. Topics he has addressed include “The Nation’s Most Successfut Schools – Lessons Leamed.,” ”Rigor and Relevance for ALL Students,” and ”Leadership for the Components of School Excellence.”

John Kuglin bas been the opening keynote speaker for the National Education Computing Conference as well as the 09 keynote address at the Florida Educational Technology Conference and twice featured at the California CUE Conference. His expertise is telecommunications for educators, Inlernet technology, television and DVD educational concepts.

Also, Man Orem, Director College Access, Institute for Public School Initiatives, will address creative ways to engage the families of first generation Hispanic college students through meetings, activities and involvement in local community events.

Ending the conference with an entertaining, motivational keynote will be Russell and Lin Jones who have spoken throughout the country on a passion for excellence. They will address Russell Jones how to disconnect your limiting thoughts and behaviors to help you realize your dreams, overcoming negative surroundings, and how your team can implement focus as a strategy for improved results.

Dr. Gail Plan, will address the need for all educators to incorporate different learning styles techniques in the classroom. She will demonstrate effective methods to be included in classrooms for public schools and higher education.

Sam Zigrossi from the Dana Cenler is back by popular demand. This year he will address Instructional Practices that integrate ELL strategies with the Marzano High Yield Instructional Strategies. Other breakout sessions will feature technology innovations & implementation techniques, plus breakout sessions will be led by principals and teachers of successful AVID schools.

SMART Board teachers and representatives will present breakout sessions demonstrating lessons and ideas on successful implementation for student engagement.

James Johnston, who utilizes multiple forms of technology into his classroom, will share, along with students from his class, podcasts, student response assessment systems and a variety of technology tools that combat student boredom and inactivity! James teaches at Cameron’s Dual Language School.

Janice Howard, Garland ISD principal has lead their AVID implementation. Hear a principal’s perspective on best practices and what to avoid as you develop and enhance your school’s program. Presenting with her from an AVID Demonstration Middle School is teacher, Marie Walker-Peterson.

Rosemary Bolden, Hutcheson Jr. High principal, will address AVID & ELL best practices with a session titled “Effective Schools and High Risk Populations.”

Reaching for the Dream: AT Hidalgo High School, all 810 students are Hispanic and half are from families who never finished high school and struggle with poverty in this border town. Despite these barriers, Hidalgo High has a 94 percent graduation rate and every student at the school took two Advanced Placement courses. “We never use poverty as an excuse,” says Edward Blaha, Hidalgo’s past principal and now serving as the Assistant Superintendent for College Readiness. Come hear him share how they have addressed the completion rate, college readiness and district initiatives to achieve uncharacteristic success!

Contact info:
Eddie Ortiz
ortiz_e149@utpb.edu
432-552-2165

Institute Location:
Crossroads Fellowship Church on Hwy 191

Time:
8:15-5:00

Be a part of the future in education for West Texas. Don’t miss the Summer Leadership Institute – June 18th!

Program Sponsors:

Click Here to Register

Malcolm Gladwell has an incomparable gift for interpreting new ideas in the social sciences and making them understandable, practical and valuable to business and general audiences alike.

Malcolm’s most recent book promises to have an even greater impact on both business and society. In Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm suggests an exciting new approach to helping people succeed by using the factors that really foster success. Outliers debuted as a #1 bestseller for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, Barnes & Noble, and Publisher’s Weekly.

With his first book Malcolm embedded the concept of The Tipping Point in our everyday vocabulary and gave organizations new tools for understanding how trends work. In his second book, Blink, he analyzed first impressions — the snap judgments that we all make unconsciously and instinctively — and he explores how we can master this important aspect of successful decision making.

Malcolm is a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine. His editor describes his work as a new genre of story, an idea-driven narrative that’s focused on the everyday and combines research with material that’s more personal, social and historical. he was previously a reporter for the Washington Post.

When:
April 14, 2009

Where:
UTPB Gymnasium

Cost:
FREE

For more information, please call 432-552-2850.

Program Sponsors:

WTPC Director Anita Absher said the institute’s goal is to creatively and courageously propel teaching and learning for thePermian Basin. We are coming together to address student achievement and college preparation by focusing on instruction and curriculum issues, based on recommendations from the grant’s Advisory Council of Superintendents and school leaders. The institute also has a strong legal strand as recognized university school law professors will address topics of their specialty.

Absher, who worked as a teacher and principal for ECISD before coming to UTPB, said demands on educators continue to escalate with significant challenges of improving student academic success, dropout prevention, building meaningful relationships with students and parents, and working with at-risk populations.

“Nationally recognized educator William Kritsonis  said, ‘great leaders impart a sense of the extraordinary, so that learning becomes a continuous adventure.’ ” Absher said. “I believe that as we empower leaders we will transform education in thePermian Basin. There is strength in working together. The speakers we’re bringing in have had significant impact in their schools or expertise in school improvement and legal challenges, and we’re going to tap into their wisdom.”

Focus Sessions:

• Sam Zigrossi, Program Director for Charles A. Dana Center, UT Austin, “It is not a secret on how to increase student achievement: Can we do it is the question?”
• Hector Montenegro, Arlington Superintendent, past Ysletta Superintendent, “Motivating and transforming our youth for college success.”

Breakout Sessions:

• Lawrence Lee Oldaker, University of Alaska Southeast, “Role of principal in free speech challenges”
• Martha McCarthy, Indiana University, “Teacher and student expression issues”
• Laura Rothstein, University of Louisville, “Special education law, likely changes and the implications”
• David Thompson, UT San Antonio, “Religious anti-discrimination act: Impact on  your students and practice”
• Sylvester Perez, MISD Superintendent, “Children of Promise, addressing the needs of at-risk youth”
• Greg Nelson, Fort Stockton High School Principal, “Road to Exemplary: Transforming a low-performing high school”
• Denise Shetter, ECISD Bowie Junior High Principal, “Data paves the way for student success”
• Patricia Bennett, Coahoma Elementary Principal, “Effective, out of the box initiatives to impact student achievement”
• Sam Zigrossi, Dana Center, “How the TEKS lead to rigor when interpreted as intended”

The WTPC Summer Leadership Institute will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 30 at Crossroads Fellowship Church,U.S. Hwy. 191 & Billy Hext Road. Registration before July 15 is $25. After July 15, registration is $35. Lunch is included. To register of for more information, contact Amanda Overby at 552-2120.