to a place of wonder... as we get "Mad About the Middle"

Keynote Speakers at General Sessions

WILLARD DAGGETT - CEO of the International Center for Leadership in Education, is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. He has assisted a number of states and hundreds of school districts with their school improvement initiatives, and collaborated with education ministries in several countries and with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, and many other national organizations. He is the creator of the Application Model and Rigor/Relevance Framework, a practical planning and instructional tool for determining the relevance of curriculum and assessment to real-world situations. Dr. Daggett is the author of numerous books about learning and education, textbooks and research studies, reports, and journal articles and has spoken to hundreds of thousands of educators in all 50 states. Dr. Daggett inspires his audiences both to embrace what is best about our education system and to make the changes necessary to meet the needs of all students in the 21st century.

BOBB DARNELL - is President of Achievement Strategies, Inc. and is an advocate for high student achievement and daily professional growth. He served as Director of Staff Support in a Northwest Illinois school district and taught for more than 20 years. Bobb has served on the Board of Trustees for the National Staff Development Council and has been a member of numerous national and task forces and committees. He is author of A Guide for Instructional Leaders and has also written four staff development guides for Wavelength's award-winning educational comedy videos. Bobb's work on the 21st Century Instructional Leader is featured in ASCD's new PD Quick Kits. Dr. Darnell is an internationally known speaker whose high-energy presentations are filled with "edutainment" and practical ideas that have resulted from blending research and tested practice. Teachers and administrators can easily sense his enthusiasm for continuous improvement, job satisfaction, lifelong learning, and organizational excellence. He is truly committed to helping teachers build high performance classrooms and building strong parental support for schools and learning.

Special Guest Presenters

STEVE HOELSCHER - Steve Hoelscher is a sought-after speaker and consultant on leadership and middle grades best practices, Steve previously served as an urban school board member, principal, counselor and teacher for thirty years in Michigan, and is an active member of the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. As a principal, he led the school community in changing from a traditional junior high to a middle grades school based on creating a community of learners. The school was recognized for its academic excellence, social equity, and developmental responsiveness and for demonstrating gains in student learning.

KEN MCEWIN - Ken McEwin is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Coordinator of Middle Grades Teacher Education at Appalachian State University. He is a former sixth grade teacher and school principal, and has extensive experience as a consultant to schools, districts, state departments of education, higher education institutions, and policy-making bodies. Dr. McEwin is author of over 150 professional publications that focus on middle level education. He has served in many leadership positions, including president of the National Middle School Association. He is also recipient of a number of awards for his work in middle grades education including the John Lounsbury Distinguished Service Award and was the founding recipient of the Ken McEwin Distinguished Service Award.

Plus other special guests from NC and around the country bringing you the latest strategies to help your class and school succeed!

CONCURRENT SESSIONS:
On Monday & Tuesday we will provide over 150 hour-long interest sessions on a broad variety of topics relevant to middle level education. Choose from topics like Accountability, "Closing the Gap," Classroom Management, Leadership, Organizational Structure, Safety and Discipline, Integrating Technology, Teaching Special Populations, Interdisciplinary Instruction, Student Services, Teaming, Advisor/Advisee, the Role of the Arts, Teaching in an Instructional Block, "Schools to Watch," Professional Development, Inclusion, content-specific presentations in ALL major areas, and much, much more.

	until the 2012 conference!