The Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) and the National Association for School and Community Engagement (NASCE) will host the National Education Partnerships Conference from December 9-11, 2012. Held at the intimate Marriott Riverwalk, the Conference is designed for anyone involved in partnerships for student success, including school partnership coordinators, business partnership professionals, community involvement specialists, parental involvement specialists, principals, education foundation staff, parents, and school volunteers.  We anticipate 250-300 attendees from across the United States. The conference’s concurrent session format will offer a self-directed, facilitated learning environment with education sessions, discussion groups, and interactive workshops designed specifically for attendees engaged in school partnerships at all levels. Workshops will provide partnership coordinators in schools, businesses, and agencies with helpful tools and best practices for effective partnerships that align resources for student success in school, career, and college.

Download the Draft Conference Agenda (subject to change)

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND SESSIONS

Monday General Session: Darcy J. Hutchins, Ph.D. in Education Policy Studies from the University of Maryland-College Park, is Senior Program Facilitator with the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University.  She provides professional development to enable district, state, and organization leaders and school teams establish and maintain comprehensive partnership programs that positively impact student success.  She is co-author of Family Reading Night (Hutchins, et al., Eye on Education, 2008) and School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Your Handbook for Action, Third Edition (Epstein, et al., Corwin Press, 2009).  She also is lead editor of annual books of Promising Partnership Practices published by NNPS. Ms. Hutchins also analyzes annual data from members of NNPS and co-authors summaries of those data.  Previously, she taught in the Baltimore City Public School System, where she developed and implemented family literacy workshops.  Ms. Hutchins is working with colleagues on a new NNPS book on involving multicultural families in the schools and in their children’s education.

Tuesday General Session: Debbie Silver is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. Her numerous recognitions include being named the Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Along the way she has taught almost every grade level and most every kind of student.

Dr. Silver has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, Canada, Europe, and Asia. She has been a featured teacher for the PBS OnLine Teacher Chat and for KDS Knowledge Delivery Systems.

Audiences everywhere respond to Debbie’s use of humor and sensitivity to remind them of how important teachers are in the lives of children. Through research-based theory, poignant stories, and hilarious characterizations she connects with the souls of all who are involved in education.

Debbie’s book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Teaching Differentiated Learning, has just been updated and re-released by Incentive Publications. Songs she co-wrote with Monte Selby are featured on his cds. She is married to Dr. Lawrence Silver, and together they have 5 sons.

SELECT CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Background Screening 101 :  A Safe Environment for Schools, Greg Goedeke, Business Development Manager, Integrated Screening Partners

Taking a Holistic Approach to Corporate Partnerships, Chelsea Woodhead, Sr. Manager of Culture and Communications, BuildASign.com

Career Ready Workforce Certification: Soft Skills Connecting Students to Careers, Ken Treviño, President/CEO, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend

Online Fundraising 101, Richard Dietz, President, Nonprofit R+D

Fairy Tales and Community Partnerships: A Surprising Commonality, Amber Fulton, Board President, Communities in Schools North Texas

Connect it! : Tools for planning, training and executing School Business Partnerships Events,Juliana Tran, Campus Grant Specialist, Austin Independent School District; Amber Elenz, Austin Council of PTAs, PTA President (2010-2012); Sheila Schoff, Senior Account Executive, Teacher Heaven; Shirley Heitzman, Executive Director (2009-2012), AISD Innovation and Development, Jessica Gamez, Exclusive Agent, Horace Mann, Pat Abrams, Director of Programs, Austin Partners in Education

The “Edge,” Todd Marshell, Principal, Fort Smith Public Schools

Basics 4 U, Linda Morris, Director of Elementary Education/President FAPE, Nassau School District, Florida Association of Partners In Education

Family Involvement-The PTA Way, Jody Weitman, Membership Chair, Texas PTA

School Playgrounds – Healthy Communities, Kathleen Ownby, Executive Director, SPARK School Park Program

EnergyVenture Summer Youth Camp: Creating a Successful Workforce Public-Private Partnership, Linda Drobnich, Senior Business Development Manager, San Jacinto College

The Effective Grants Office, Gayla Rawlinson, Director of Resource Development, Harris County Department of Education

Development Strategies for Success, Lolita Reyes, Assistant Director, Guam Community College

Build A Winning Partner Program, Mark Franke, President, Relatrix Corporation

The Power of Partnerships, Suzanne Bean, Community Liaison, Mississippi Association of Partners in Education

Mentoring for Academic Success, Michelle Jackson, Community Partnerships Supervisor, Round Rock ISD

The YES! Expo, Eunice Williams, Project Manager, Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas

Common Goals Call for Collective Measures: E3 Alliance and Collective Impact, Susan Dawson, President, E3 Aliance

Creating a College Bound culture in the early elementary years : ATLE’s Kindergaten2College Project, Debra Urias, President, Association of Texas Leaders for Education (ATLE)

GrillMasters: “We Grill, They Master,” Ginni McDonald, Principal, Fort Smith Public Schools

Good Neighbor Program, Sue Loudis, Coordinator Partnerships & Volunteers, Spring Branch ISD

The Care and Feeding of Mentors Over Ten Years, Linda Buchman, Community Relations Officer, Spring Branch ISD

Youth Adult Partnerships at Work!  The Youth Empowerment Program, Rafael Munoz, Youth Development Specialist, World Vision US Programs

The Art of Community Partnerships: Create a Masterpiece with Ten Easy Steps, Larry Goddard, Ph.D; Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Tyler ISD Foundation

Right Time for School-Business Partnerships: Bending the National Mood to Achieve Your Partnership Goals, Bonnie Ellison, School-Business-Community Partnership Coordinator, Northside ISD

From Career Clubs to On Site Mentoring, Ridge Hammons, Executive Director, HELP – Hammons Education Leadership Program

We are offering 3 preconference bookcamps on Sunday, December 9, 2012, from 1:30-4:30 at the Marriott Riverwalk.

• Recruiting and Sustaining Community/Business Partners.This “how-to boot camp” is filled to the brim with techniques, ideas, tips, and proven strategies for developing a successful partnership plan.   Steps for identifying and recruiting potential community/business partners, planning and conducting introductory meetings, nurturing the partnership, and recognizing partners will be explored.  This boot camp is replete with ideas, forms, activities, etc. in a workbook, which makes it a must for the novice and a refresher for the experienced Partners in Education Coordinator, administrator, teacher and community member.  Transferrable ideas are also relevant for nonprofit professionals.   Presented by Dr. Gwen Samples, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, Houston ISD.
• Connecting Parents to Schools; Building a Bridge to the Community. Decades of research shows unequivocally that when parents and the community are connected to schools, student achievement improves. However, it’s not always easy to make those connections, especially to parents and families that are, for whatever reason, disengaged from schools. This workshop will show you tried-and-true strategies, supported by research, that will help overcome obstacles and build a thriving parent involvement program. Topics will include; accessing community support, reaching “underserved” parents, how to keep data that shows the value of your program, and much more! Presented by Melissa T. McQuarrie, Public Relations Consultant and former Director of Community Relations for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
• Creating Healthy Collaborations For Sustained Success. Collaboration is increasingly vital for organizations, especially in an era of shrinking resources.  This session is designed for nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers but will be equally helpful for partnership coordinators in schools and businesses that are looking to deepen their partnerships.  Attendees will receive an introduction to collaborations and the various components involved, including grassroots community organizing, innovative program development, and grant writing basics.  The material is presented through handouts; a panel of experts who speak from experience on collaborations and field questions; and interactive community and program development exercises utilizing ideas from the attendees during the seminar.  You’ll leave with ideas and tools to help take your collaborations to the next level. Presented by Kathy Holdway and/or Pam Anderson, Circle of 10, Inc. Network for Collaboration.

Bootcamp Fees:

TAPE Member Early Bird Registration (before 8/31/12 9/30/12): $60
Non TAPE Member Early Bird Registration (before 8/31/12 9/30/12): $75
TAPE Member Regular Registration: $79
Non TAPE Member Regular Registration: $99

The Marriott Riverwalk is located at:

• 889 E. Market St., San Antonio, Texas, 78205
• Map and transportation information to Marriott Riverwalk
• Parking will be available on-site for $15/day for in-house guests. There is a public parking lot on the same block with lower rates.

First time to San Antonio? Learn more about the history and majesty of this beautiful city at the San Antonio Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau

Online conference registration is now closed. Come to the ballroom level of the Marriott Riverwalk to register in person. Registration opens at noon on Sunday, Dec. 9, and again at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 10

TAPE membership is being offered at discounted rates on the conference registration form– join TAPE and receive member rates for registration!

Conference Registration Fees:

TAPE Member* Presenter Registration: $188
Non TAPE Member Presenter Registration: $235
TAPE Member* Regular Registration: $239
Non TAPE Member Regular Registration: $295

You can pay by credit card, check, or PO. Contact the TAPE office directly at (512) 473-8377 if you have questions about the registration process.

 *Members of other statewide partnership associations (Mississippi Association of Partners in Education, Florida Association of Partners in Education, etc.) may register at TAPE member rates.  Session presenters receive courtesy early bird registration rates at any time.