Press Release - Announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2, 2005
Contact: Jenny Harder, 1-800-96-TEACH, hardeje@emporia.edu
NTHF to hold second early career teacher conference
WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA- The National Teachers Hall of Fame will hold its second regional conference for early career teachers, October 7 – 8 in Winter Haven, Fla.
Participants will include college students in teacher preparation programs and teachers, grades K- 12, in their first, second, or third year of teaching.
“The purpose of the conference is to provide early career teachers with an additional source of support and encouragement which may aid them during the first three years of their teaching career,” said Dr. Leo Pauls, NTHF President.
Four break-out sessions will be held. Topics include classroom management, differentiated instruction, and business/community partnerships.
All sessions will be staffed by teachers who have been inducted into The National Teachers Hall of Fame and by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. This will provide the highest level of educational expertise.
Conference presenters will include Dana Kelly currently teaches K -5 gifted students (Florida); Debi Barrett Hayes currently teaches art education, grades 9 - 12 (Florida); Nancy Berry currently teaches elementary gifted reading (Indiana); Lisa Z. Black teaches fourth grade elementary reading (Kansas); Hector Ibarra is a two-time Fullbright Scholar and is also a Milken Scholar (Iowa); Jane Koszoru teaches high school English at a College Academy (Florida); Katie McGrath teaches fifth grade(Florida); Shirley Naples was Newsweek Teacher of the Year (Michigan); Larry Statler currently teaches K – 3 severely disabled children (California); and Carol Strickland teaches high school speech and forensics and is debate coach (Kansas).
Participants will receive tips, hear of innovative programs, and acquire new teaching materials. All sessions will interject “small bites” of Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s new initiative to teach reading in all subject areas (K-12).
The keynote speaker will be Laurie Kagan. Known for her high-energy presentations, she is the author of ten popular books for teachers includingMultiple Intelligences Structures and Activities;Teambuilding; andClassbuilding. She has also developed popular learning games and structures that are used in classrooms world-wide. Kagan was the former Director of Elementary Education for the State of Nevada and presently is the Director of Kagan Professional Development. She translates a deep understanding of theory and methods into practical, teacher-friendly strategies and presentations.
The conference begins with a “Salute New Teachers Reception” October 7 at 5:00 p.m. The community keynote will also be held that night beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Registration and break-out sessions begin at 8:00 a.m. October 8. The conference will be held at the State Farm Building, 7401 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven, Fla.
Registration for the conference is $75 for all events. Participants can register on-line at www.nthf.org or by mail. If registering by mail send full payment to NTHF Florida Conference, 1320 C of E Drive, Emporia, KS 66801. Registration must be completed by October 3.
The mission of the National Teachers Hall of Fame Early Career Teacher Conference is to encourage, empower, and challenge early career teachers by involving them in sessions presented by National Teachers Hall of Fame Inductees and other experts to retain them in the teaching profession through mentoring relationships with the Hall of Fame teachers.