For those on the Conference Planning Committee and also MASA Staff who are most involved with our upcoming Fall Conference, it seems right around the corner! Every effort is being made to connect to our theme, Leading For Learning — Designing for the Future, by providing top-notch keynote speakers who will give us information, insight, and strategies to:

You won't want to miss our final keynote presentation on Friday, September 29, 2006, which will contribute to all three areas with a primary emphasis on the teaching and learning component of our work. Brook Haycock and Daria Hall will present Achievement in America: The Numbers and The Stories They Tell. We will see and hear through this very dynamic presentation that opposites not only attract, but can make powerful connections that show how what seems impossible can be accomplished. Daria Hall is the Sr. Policy Analyist for Education Trust. Brooke Haycock is the Artist in Residence for this organization.

Education Trust is a national non-profit organization with the mission of raising academic achievement of all students with particular attention to narrowing achievement gaps for students from low incomes and those from minority populations. The presention, though national in nature, will link to the challenges we face in the state of Michigan.

Brooke and Daria, each with their very effective and unique teaching style, will share important concepts regarding testing and learning. What they will share comes from a “mountain of data.” Each will quickly uncover the stories behind the data and reveal a potential for learning based on that information. When you stay for this powerful sharing, you will not only look at achievement data, but also explore success stories from schools that are doing the job and seeing students achieve. We will hear the true voices of the students, teachers, and administrators who are making it happen and transfer to our own setting what is possible when we are organized for success!