2010 Education Partnerships Conference

Community + Business + Education = Student Success

Unlocking the Partnership Puzzle

Monday, January 25, 2010

9:30 – 10:30 AM

Using Social Media to Increase Community Support for Education – Terry Morawski, Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Marketing, Mansfield ISD
Attendees will learn about the practical applications of social media from real-world examples. Diverse examples will be discussed from school districts, education foundations, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. The session will close with a Q&A segment for attendees to explore the usage of these exciting technologies for their organizations.

Lemonade Day – Julie Eberly, Executive Director, Prepared 4 Life, JC Perez, National Project Manager Affiliation, Prepared 4 Life
Sponsored by Prepared 4 Life and its many community partners, Lemonade Day is a citywide program designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own lemonade business. It provides an opportunity for families, businesses, faith-based community organizations, schools and educators to come together for a common purpose – to train the next generation of entrepreneurs through a free, fun, engaging and experiential activity.

Managing the Madness:  Conquering Email in 4 Easy Steps – Maura Thomas, Chief Trainer, Regainyourtime.com
Do you often feel like you are drowning in email? Do you have hundreds of messages or more in your Inbox?  Welcome to the Information Age.  Any person (or digital device) anywhere in the world can send you any piece of information in a matter of seconds.  The result is that what was supposed to be convenient communication has become a source of unlimited distraction.  Attend the presentation Conquering Email in 4 Easy Steps and learn:  the top 3 reasons your email piles up, and how to avoid them,  how to control your email in just four steps, and  how to get your inbox to zero, every day – starting today!

Dedicated Service Graduate Volunteer Program in Spring ISD – Tonya Richardson, Wellness Coordinator, Spring ISD, Mickie Musick, College Connection Counselor, Carl Wunche High School-Spring ISD, Deniell Stowers, College Connection Counselor, Westfield High School-Spring ISD
Instilled in an interest in volunteerism, it is our goal that Spring ISD students serve in their community while in high school and throughout their lives.  Spring ISD is entering its third year of offering Dedicated Service Graduate Program (DSG).  All high school students can graduate with a DSG honor cord by completing community service requirements.  We will be discussing the process of starting the program, maintaining it and what barriers we’ve encountered.

10:45 – 11:45 AM

Classroom Coaching – Kathrin Brewer, Executive Director, Austin Partners in Education
The Austin ISD PIE has leveraged thousands of volunteers to accelerate academic achievement for Title 1 students at key academic leverage points. Thousands of students receive weekly small-group tutoring with curriculum that is aligned with district objectives to effectively augment teacher instruction. Automated volunteer management, background checks, and back-office systems create efficiencies that allow a small staff to effectively manage thousands of volunteers, at a cost of less than $10/student-hour.  Austin PIE is a successful local model that has significant state wide potential.

The Drama Mama on your Board or Working – Suzi Pagel, Director of Corporate & Community Development, Midway ISD,, Dawn Parnell, Director, Killeen ISD Education Foundation
Highly functioning, cohesive boards can accomplish great things for a nonprofit organization! Dysfunctional boards can detract from your mission and cripple your organization. Learn the various reasons that volunteers choose to serve on boards, and how to use this information to benefit your Education Foundation or any board of directors so that your board can be one of the great ones! Learn how to determine a volunteer’s motivation and how to utilize the strengths of different volunteers.

ExxonMobil Foundation/Houston A+ Challenge Math Initiative:  Reasoning Mind – ExxonMobil Foundation/Houston A+ Challenge Math Initiative:  Reasoning Mind – Michael Webster, Program Coordinator, Houston A+ Challenge, Michael Hokom, Senior Enrollment and Implementation Specialist, Reasoning Mind
A representative panel will describe the different strengths each partner brings to this Initiative addressing the need to narrow the gap in elementary and middle school student mathematics achievement and to provide a central focus for quality teaching and learning.

The Up and Up on Planning Successful Partnership Meetings- Maya Kirtley, Partners in Education Specialist, Socorro ISD
Year after year, Partners in Education Programs are faced with the challenge of marketing meetings in order to gain business participation.  Find out how Socorro ISD Partners in Education Program carefully plans monthly meetings that are not only informative but interactive and fun.  Learn how icebreakers, District presentations and creative strategies are used to keep businesses coming back time and again.

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Entirely too many Meetings Begin at 8:00 am Sharp and End at 10:00 am Dull!  Getting the Most out of Meetings – Nancy Marks, Partners in Education Coordinator, Wichita Falls ISD
Did you know that the average professional spends 8 ½ hours a week in meetings?  That’s nothing new to you, but wouldn’t you like to learn how to plan an effective meeting, keep meetings at a minimum and discover effective alternatives?  If so, this workshop is for you!  Learn first-hand how to utilize a consent agenda, review basic parliamentary procedures and practical meeting preparations.

Working with Faith Based Groups – Alissa Magrum, Director of Volunteer Services and Community Partnerships, Communities In Schools of Central Texas
Research shows that a large majority of people volunteer through their church or faith based institution.  CIS has developed a number of very dynamic and successful partnerships with local churches.  They have been a source for everything from mentors, tutors, afterschool helpers, and field trip chaperones. They have helped with fundraisers, crisis situations and CIS room makeovers. They are on our Marathon running team, are major partners in our School Supply Drive, they sponsor students and families for the Holidays and have hosted student parties. We would love to talk about these partnerships and how we are leveraging these incredible human and in kind resources into the schools.

Remember your Mission is not in a Recession – Keith Reimer, Director, BEST Education Foundation
In these uncertain times where foundations have seen their investments shrink and fund raising is at a stall, it is not a time to cry, “Whoa is me.” This workshop will give you insight into how to energize and mobilize your board to build strategic relationships that will carry your mission forward in the most challenging of times. You will learn ways to include your whole district and community in your mission.

A Successful Partnership can Help Prevent Childhood Obesity – Sandy Bristow, Special Projects Manager, Marilyn Hinton, Coordinator for Elementary Science and Health, Fort Bend Independent School District
The Oliver Study examines the successes and obstacles when a non-profit foundation, Baylor University, and Fort Bend ISD collaborate in creating a healthy school environment. Learn strategies to integrate healthy messages and physical activity into existing curriculum, and support healthy campus-wide events and cooking demonstrations. Find out how this program has impacted the elementary school population of a multi-cultural, large school district.

2:45 – 3:45 PM

Service as a Strategy to Enhance Student Success – Rosa Moreno-Mahoney, OneStar’s Vice President of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility
How can national service and community volunteering help Texas’ youth achieve academic success? Examine data and best-practice models that pair service as a strategy to address the critical educational needs of our state. Discover new and expanding funding and partnership opportunities available through the Serve America Act and other state and national efforts.

Summer Partners in Career Exploration – Ridge Hammons, Executive Director, Hammons Education Leadership Programs, Inc., Lee Sloan, Vice-President, Del Mar College, Joe Miller, Director of Public Affairs, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Ann Matula, Director, Craft Training Center
“How can you find the job of your dreams if you don’t even know it exists?” Experience how at-risk youth experienced over 30 careers in one month!  They donned HAZMAT suits, put out fires, learned about dental technology, built scaffolds, rewired electronics, programmed computers, planned plumbing, took x-rays, and healed sick, along with many other hands-on demonstrations at Del Mar College, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and the Craft Training Center.  Participants will learn the schedules, curriculum and evaluative pieces used to shape and assess the educational hands-on experiences that took place during this “demonstration” study.

The Next Level of Education Partnerships:  Community Collaboration – Pat Rosenberg, Project Director, HHCHY, Tracy Gillen, Senior Director of Membership, San Jacinto Girl Scouts, Karen Washington, Director of Character Education,  Houston Independent School District
You have award-winning partnerships. How do you leverage those partnerships for a greater impact? Explore the benefits of a common language and strategy for successful youth and workforce development. Learn the five steps to building a successful collaboration within your community.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Bootcamps 8-11 AM (Pre-registration is required)

Build Trust to Leverage Partnerships – Dr. Monica Scamardo, President, Variate
We create opportunities with other people and entities because we want to make a difference. Partnerships are built for getting results and most effective when built with trust. Nothing enhances relationships more than trust. What we say and do is directly related to the level of trust we have with others as well as the productivity and morale across groups. Demonstrating and communicating trust builds partnerships, strengthens teams, and facilitates success.  Attendees will understand the 3 components of trust & how they impact decision-making, learn the 3 causes of organizational distrust, and discuss the research-based best practices for building trust.

Help!  I Need a Community or Business Partner – Dr. Gwendolyn Samples, Partnerships Coordinator, Houston ISD
This “how-to academy” is filled to the brim with techniques, ideas, tips, and proven strategies for developing a partnership plan then identifying, recruiting, initiating, nurturing, and recognizing community/business partners. Replete with materials, handouts and a workbook, it is a must for the novice and a refresher for the experienced PIE coordinator, school administrator, teacher, and community member. Transferrable ideas are also relevant for nonprofit professionals.

There is No Business Like Show Business – Therese Cole-Hubbs,Special Events Supervisor, Houston ISD
Event planning is like a Broadway production. As the coordinator, you play many roles: the director, producer, publicity agent, stage hand, and the cleanup crew all rolled into one. Therese Cole-Hubbs will lead the discussion in an open-forum setting, sharing techniques, strategies and experiences, so together participants can learn how to receive rave reviews at their next production.

Communicating your Story: From Storytelling to Results– Beth Caplan, Strategic Consultant, Caplan Strategic Consulting, Pamela Besson-Owens, I live Here I Give Here /Foundation for Women’s Resources
This workshop will enable attendees to more effectively communicate their key messages to their target constituencies to maximize the efficiency of their outreach and marketing.  Attendees will:  work to identify, enhance and refine key messages; identify their key stakeholders to enable them to focus and effectively target the messaging; and to explore potential mechanisms for getting those messages to those target stakeholders.   Where possible, attendees should bring with them existing messaging material (e.g./vision and mission statement, newsletters, sample mailings, press releases, website pages, and the like) as supporting materials for the workshop.  Using a combination of presentation, group brainstorming, and individual work, attendees can sharpen and focus their message, especially in the context of reaching the key groups that can bring them closer to their mission success.

Tuesday Concurrent Sessions

9 – 10 AM

Collaborative Leadership Skills –Heather McKissick, Executive Director, Leadership Austin
What are the skills and attributes that successful collaborative leaders bring to their work?  How can you hone your leadership skills to be more effective in engaging others with your organization??  Based on interviews with experienced Central Texas leaders and on a review of research and best practices across the United States, Leadership Austin identified 13 core competencies for successful collaborative leaders.   In this session, three of these competencies will be covered in depth – they are the skills we believe most critical to successfully engaging others in your mission and organization:  Inclusion, Conflict Transformation and Political Acuity.

Involving Parents at Schools Through Computer Technology - Jose-Pablo Fernandez, Founder & Executive Director, Parents Alliance
Parents Alliance creates grass roots participation of parents at the schools their children attend to achieve broad social impact by empowering parents through education. We teach parents computer technology and life skills in the language they understand. They learn a marketable skill and increase their educational level to support their children’s learning and become active agents of change to reduce the dropout rate, change lives, transform communities, and ensure a better future for their families.

Early College High School: A Powerful Program that Improves College Readiness for Underserved and Underrepresented Populations – Dr. Nilka Aviles, Early College High School Director, The University of Texas at San Antonio, P20 Initiatives Office
This research study studied the components of the Early College High School(ECHS) model to exemplify how it has impacted the educational development and college preparation of the participants as perceived by core program teachers and administrators. The exploratory case study examined closely the effects and impact of the program on the participants with respect to achievement, motivation, post-secondary aspirations, college readiness, and preparation. This study assessed the impact of the program as a means to closing the achievement gap of underserved and underrepresented populations.

10 – 11 AM

Fundraising Lessons We can Apply from the 2008 Presidential Campaign – Richard Dietz, Principal, KELL Partners, Kevin Burpo, Principal, KELL Partners
The 2008 Obama Campaign demonstrated the amazing promise of connecting with constituents and raising money online, causing many to ask, “How did they do that?” We have deconstructed the major lessons from the Obama Campaign and pulled out specific tasks and strategies that you can implement today in your organization or group. Join us to learn the low-cost strategies and tools that are available, so you can better connect with constituents and raise money online.

Mattering Matters! Creating More Meaning in your Work & Life - Sue Cullen, M.A., Owner, Sue Cullen & Associates
People want to feel as if they are mattering-or making a difference in this world. Yet, many individuals have a hard time appreciating their personal significance. In this session, we will draw upon our collective wisdom to explore multiple paths to mattering. As leaders, prepare to walk away with a renewed sense of personal power, purpose and value, and a recharged commitment to engage and inspire excellence in the partnerships and people around you.

Collaborative Dropout Reduction Pilot Program – Chris Caesar, Program Manager, Texas Education Agency
The presentation will describe the Texas Education Agency’s Collaborative Dropout Reduction Pilot Program(CDRPP) and strategies used to increase school-community collaboration to address the dropout problem. Representatives from grantee districts will share their activities and strategies, and be available to answer questions.

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Building Successful Partnerships in Connecting University Faculty to High School Faculty – Dr. Wanda Nelson, Associate Vice President for Pre-College Youth Development Programs and Student Academic Success Initiatives, The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Kenya L. Walker, Executive Director for Pre-College Academic Readiness Programs, The University of Texas at Austin
Pre-College Youth Development within the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement partners with target Texas high schools to promote college access and success for traditionally underrepresented students. By connecting University faculty with high school classrooms through the ChemBridge and Students Partnering for Undergraduate Rhetoric Success programs, high school students are equipped with skills that prepare them for college-level coursework in writing and chemistry. This session will discuss the critical components in building these successful partnerships.

The Ins & Outs of Volunteer Management – Kathleen McCleskey, KM Consulting And Training Connection
Strategically considering the reason why a volunteer program exists and clarifying its goals are major steps in a successfully run volunteer program.  This session will consider the ins and outs of a well run and well managed volunteer program.  It will answer the questions, why does your volunteer program exist, what are its goals, and how will you know if it is successful.

Maximizing Communication Effectiveness – Anne Pritchard,Vice President, Strategic Solutions Group
Communication is a critical skill that determines our success both personally and professionally. Managing personal and professional relationships requires the ability to communicate effectively. Unlike riding a bicycle, frequency of communication does not increase ability. Successful communication requires skills that help individuals tailor their message to their audience. This is an opportunity to learn more about the characteristics of each behavior style and how to modify your style in order to maximize communication effectiveness.

Business-Community Mentoring Program – Kay Metz, Director Development and Community Partnerships, Waco ISD, Sarah Collins, Coordinator, LEAD Program, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
The LEAD mentoring program is an innovative business and education collaboration between the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce and Waco ISD.  The purpose is to develop business leader-student relationships for educational improvement and life success.  In-need students from WISD high schools are paired with community and business leaders for a minimum of three years.  Mentors educate and expose students to various business fields and professional opportunities through site visits, tours and presentations.  In 2009 100% of the seniors in the LEAD program not only graduated, but went on to pursue higher education.

2:45 – 3:45

EQ Intelligence – Mary Castleberry
Why is Emotional Intelligence important? It helps us to…

• Accurately perceive, appraise and express emotion
• Access or generate feelings to facilitate understanding
• Understand emotions and the knowledge derived from emotions
• The objectives of this session will be:
  • To introduce a simple EQ model
  • To introduce a tool for measuring our own EQ
  • To conduct one activity for examining EQ

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize the emotions of yourself and others around you, manage them for potential affects on others, and consider emotions in relationships, in decision-making and problem solving. Emotional intelligence is a critical ingredient in self-leadership and in leadership of others and it requires one to be self-aware and have strong empathy for others.

Ensuring Success for Young People -  Kaija Shaffer, Communications Manager and Stephanie Drakulich, Resource Specialist
Every TAPE Member wants to help students succeed and prepare for life after high-school.  Search Institute is a leading global innovator in discovering what children and adolescents need to become caring, healthy, and responsible adults. Through community engagement and innovation, your role as an essential asset builder fosters positive experiences, relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities in young people. You can help adolescents find enrichment in their lives, reach their potential, and be ready for college, work, and life. In this session, Search Institute will help you streamline your asset-building efforts by offering hopeful solutions and highlighting partnerships with Ready by 21 and Best Buy @15.

Empowering Youth to Grow Food for the Community:  Urban Roots and the YouthLaunch Model – Mike Evans, Urban Roots Co-cordinator, YouthLaunch, Max Elliot, Urban Roots Program Co-coordinator, YouthLaunch
Since 1994, YouthLaunch(YL), an Austin non-profit, has been working to empower youth through peer-to-peer networking and by engaging them in community service. YL staff will present on the organization’s model for creating programs that combine positive youth development, empowerment, and community service. Participants will examine pieces of YL’s Urban Roots program, which teaches youth to grow food for the community.

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