8th Annual Charter School Conference
Hilton Hotel & Conference Center • Marietta, GA
March 10 - 12, 2010
Presentations
Thursday, March 11th 10:00-11:30
Dr. Harry Wong Continues
After the General Session which discusses how the best schools have a culture of consistency. Where every person, program, procedure and structure is strikingly coordinated and coherent towards clear goals related to student learning and achievement, Harry Wong will walk the audience, step-by-step, through how a teacher can create an effective classroom and how an administrator can create a school that has a culture of consistency.
Dr. Harry Wong, Author
Time/Place: 10:00-11:30, Ballroom
Track: Curriculum and School Leadership
Thursday, March 11th 10:00-11:30
Using Proven Business Processes to Control and Monitor Financial Performance
In order to achieve academic performance, a charter school must also be financially healthy. Using sound business practices is critical. This session overviews key financial processes and tools such as an annual budget, internal controls and an effective monthly Dashboard tool that allows a school to continually monitor financial performance.
Lorrie Davidson, Vice President of Finance, Charter Schools USA
Time/Place: 10:00-11:30, Break Out Room C
Track: Operations
Thursday, March 11th 10:00-11:30
Governance 201 – Next Steps: Strategic Planning and Sustainability
Governing Boards who have been in operations for a few years are ready to go to the next level – strategic planning for growth and sustainability. Learn about the strategic planning process and the steps to developing a sustainability plan that will ensure the fiscal solvency of your school for many years to come.
Dr. Brian L. Carpenter, Charter School Governance and Management Consultant/Author
Time/Place: 10:00-11:30, Break Out Room E
Track: Governance, Advocacy & Policy
Thursday, March 11th 10:00-11:30
Date Reporting: Devil in the Details
Running a public charter school is tricky business when it comes to compliance and all of the details that must be considered to effectively and responsibly manage and meet authorizers’ expectations. State and local authorizers will provide helpful insight on how to best set your school up to be compliant in all realms. In addition, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s Charter School Task Force will provide a progress report on their mission to review and improve Title II, Part A as it relates to charter schools meeting federal teacher quality guidelines.
Anne Marie Fenton, Program Director, Assessment for the Professional Standards Commission
Jason Martin, Education Research and Evaluation Specialist Charter Schools Division, Georgia Department of Education
Allen Mueller, Coordinator of Charter Schools, Atlanta Public Schools
Time/Place: 10:00-11:30, Cole Room
Track: Performance & Accountability
Thursday, March 11th 10:00-11:30
Good to Gone vs. Good to Great
This session will focus on creating a warning system to detect critical issues impacting the success of charter schooling. Building systems of early detection or at least recognizing those “yellow flag” areas are a critical first step in ensuring that charter schools continue to travel down a “good to great” path. In this interactive session, participants will identify key needs assessment areas, ranging from academic services to technology and discuss how proactive or intervening measures can cultivate a successful and timely school turnaround.
Angela L. Irwin, Director of Board Programs and Strategic Relationships Manager, National Charter Schools Institute
Ron Palmer, Executive Director, National Charter Schools Institute
Time/Place: 10:00-11:30, Break Out Room G
Track: Operations
Thursday, March 11th 11:45-12:30
Teaching the 21st Century Student
This session will cover ways to engage the 21st Century Student using technology. It will concentrate on the area of Social Studies. Using many different techniques and technologies, the presenters will discuss their year-long action study describing their successes as well as their challenges.
Mary Tidrick, 5th Grade Teacher, Addison Elementary
Julia Balukin, 4th Grade Teacher, Addison Elementary
Margaret Caudle, Advanced Learning Program Teacher, Addison Elementary
Tata Bagheri, Special Ed/Inclusion 5th grade, Addison Elementary
Time/Place: 11:45-12:30, Break Out Room C
Track: Curriculum
Thursday, March 11th 11:45-12:30
How to Create a Charter Culture in a Conversion Charter School
Moving from a public school to a conversion charter school is like turning a cruise ship around – it happens slowly and with deliberate planning. Staff, students and parents must create one vision for a better school, and every action undertaken thereafter must be reflected in the resulting governing charter. The facilitator will discuss how to engage all stakeholders in the process of cultivating a strong charter culture that will provide outstanding academic results for students.
Dr. Ruth Baskerville, Principal, Woodland Elementary School
Time/Place: 11:45-12:30, Break Out Room D
Track: School Leadership
Thursday, March 11th 11:45-12:15
Best Practices in Developing Legal Policies & Governance Procedures
This session will provide charter schools with best practices in developing strong governance documents and legal policy and procedural documents. Topics included will be board governance documents (articles of incorporation, bylaws etc.); nonprofit organization documents; service contracts and leases; personnel policies; and contracts with parents and students.
Holly Green, Charter School Consultant and Attorney, Education Advisors, LLC
Time/Place: 11:45-12:15, Break Out Room E
Track: Governance, Advocacy & Policy
Thursday, March 11th 11:45-12:30
Writing SMART Performance Objectives
New petitioners and those seeking to renew their charters must understand new expectations from authorizers on how to write rigorous, specific, measureable, attainable, reasonable, and timely charter performance objectives. Hear what authorizers are looking for in performance objectives and how to make the objectives appropriate for your school.
Allen Mueller, Coordinator of Charter Schools, Atlanta Public Schools
Kelly Cadman, Director of Education and Training, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 11:45-12:30, Cole Room
Track: Performance & Accountability
Thursday, March 11th 11:45-12:30
Charters, Communities & Chambers
Charters need the support of their local communities to grow and sustain their academic and business programs. Chambers of Commerce and local businesses and industries provide many partnership opportunities that will benefit the community at large and charter school students. Learn about some of these opportunities in this session presented by key members of local and state Chambers of Commerce.
Andrew Lewis, Chief Programming Officer, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Ryan Mahoney, Director of Public Policy, Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Kali Boatright, President & CEO, Douglas County Chamber of Commerce
Time/Place: 11:45-12:30, Break Out Room I
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-2:30
Funding Overview
For charter schools in Georgia, funding is always an area of concern. Understanding how funding in Georgia works is critical for maximizing local, state, and federal revenue streams. Topics addressed will include: reviewing the QBE statute and its requirements; ensuring that schools code students properly so that full funding flows to them; understanding how waivers may impact funding; calculating expected funding in a charter school’s first year of operation and during years in which the student population expands dramatically. Charter school principals and governing board members responsible for financing are encouraged to attend.
Andrew Broy, Associate Superintendent, Policy, External Affairs, and Charter Schools, Georgia Department of Education
Kelly Cadman, Director of Education and Training, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 1:45-2:30, Break Out Room G
Track: Operations
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-3:15
Legal & Regulatory Matters in Charter Schools
Charter schools must ensure that they comply with all national and state legal and regulatory requirements. This session will provide an overview of some key requirements boards and leaders should ensure they understand. Charter school expert attorneys and a national charter school policy advisor will explain to boards and principals how to keep their schools compliant, considerations for drafting policy, and ways to reduce exposure.
Holly Green, Charter School Consultant and Attorney, Education Advisors, LLC
Sarina Russotto, Legal Specialist Charter Schools Division, Georgia Department of Education
Tiffani Tatum, State Policy Director, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Break Out Room C
Track: Performance & Accountability
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-3:15
The Role of Professional Leaders: Making Professional Development Work
Participants will interactively examine their instructional leadership, self-assess professional development efforts in their schools, outline next steps for professional learning, and explore these questions: 1) what is capacity building professional development; how can it impact student learning and teacher practice? 2) What school-based professional learning models should be in place for capacity building? 3) How to find time for school-based professional development?
Shirley Kilgore, Program Consultant, ASCD
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Break Out Room D
Track: School Leadership
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-315
Identifying and Avoiding Trouble Spots in Math
Back by popular demand, this educational and entertaining session will explore the reasons behind the difficulty teaching traditional “trouble spots” in Mathematics. Topics will be audience driven, and may include operations with fractions, story problems, operations with signed numbers and numerous others, all of which seem to indicate that Mathematics is naturally “difficult”.
Tom Clark, Author, Video Text Interactive
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-3:15
Rethinking the Facility Challenge
Facility is almost always one of the biggest challenges charter schools face. The purpose of this session is to provide a framework for 21st century learning space design –and strategies and options for finding a suitable facility. We will present case studies where 21st century learning environments can be created through adaptive reuse of retail locations.
Tiffany Green, CEO & President, TIFFANY GREEN LLC
Tariq Abdullah, NOMA, Principal Architect, Tarchitects LLC
Tom Sayre, Principal Architect, Sizemore Group
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Break Out Room H
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-3:15
Special Education in the Charter School
Charter schools have a unique challenge in serving special needs students with limited staff and funding. In addition, they often lack support to ensure compliance with IDEA and other statutes pertinent to serving special needs students. Hear the experts discuss legal and regulatory requirements for charter schools considerations for implementing a quality Special Education program in your school.
Nancy O’Hara, Director, Division for Special Education Services
Office of Standards, Instruction and Assessment
Georgia Department of Education
Dr. Jessica Bucholz, Assistant Professor of Special Education
and Speech Language Pathology, University of West Georgia
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Cole Room
Track: School Leadership
Thursday, March 11th 1:45-3:15
All Star Leadership: How “Top Talent” Drives Charter School Success
Scholars and practitioners agree that school success begins with a high-performance leadership team.
This session follows the real-world experience of several Atlanta charters and their quest for an outstanding school leader – the search and the training, the roles and responsibilities, and the chemistry
with staff, students and board. The panel will be moderated by a national expert in human capital
management.
Natalie Brooks, Chief People Officer, Edison Learning
Leah McLeod, Co-chair and CFO, Founding Board, The Intown Academy
Don Doran, Principal, Drew Charter School
Martha Nesbit, Director of Instruction, Oglethorpe Charter School
Time/Place: 1:45-3:15, Break Out Room E
Track: Governance, Advocacy & Policy
Thursday, March 11th 2:40-3:25
What is a “No Excuses School” and how can my school become one?
The Georgia Public Policy Foundation has honored No Excuses schools for more than a decade. In 2009, 44 public schools across Georgia were recognized as No Excuses schools. They are, unfortunately, still the exception rather than the rule. In too many communities, mediocrity is expected and accepted. In this session, you will learn what schools made the list and how they accomplished this noteworthy recognition.
Kelly McCutchen, President, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Time/Place: 2:40-3:25, Break Out Room G
Track: Performance & Accountability
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
All you need to know about Building Finance: Capital Markets, Bonds, Tenant Improvement and Credit
In this interactive workshop, an experienced charter schools loan officer will help board members and administrators determine how much their schools can spend on facilities. Attendees will learn the step-by-step process for creating accurate revenue projections, determining their schools’ costs, and budgeting for rainy days. Individual schools will rate the particular characteristics of their school to determine if they can qualify for a municipal bond and to project their credit score. Business managers, Chief Financial Officers, board members, and principals will learn the mechanics of using a municipal bond, the criteria for bonding, and the views of institutional investors who purchase bonds.
Russ Caldwell, Sr. Vice President, D.A. Davidson & Co.
Steve Saltzman, Commercial Loan Officer, Self-Help
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Break Out Room E
Track: Governance, Advocacy & Policy
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-4:30
Rigor & Engagement For All
Teaching and learning is active and engaging in Expeditionary Learning classrooms. Participants will engage in a structured experience where required content comes alive so all learners think, participate and meet clear, student friendly learning targets. Debrief will focus on Expeditionary Learning’s nationally recognized pedagogy modeled and experienced during the session.
Angela Jolliffe, Southeast Regional Director, Expeditionary Learning Schools
Time/Place: 3:45-4:30, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
Charter Commission: Lessons Learned and Panel Discussion
The Georgia Charter Commission is one year old….what lessons have been learned in this first year? Come hear from the DOE, as well as a panel of Charter Commissioners, about the first round of Commission charters and future plans for the process. Included in the panel discussion will be priorities of the Commission for the 2010 application cycle and common issues from the 2009 application cycle that will be helpful to applicants.
Andrew Broy, Associate Superintendent, Policy, External Affairs, and Charter Schools, Georgia Department of Education
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Break Out Room C
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
How to be a Fireball Leader Without Getting Singed
Being a charter school leader is a tremendous challenge – so many balls to juggle, so many responsibilities to consider, so little support. Principals will learn to recognize signs of becoming de-energized and losing confidence and how to transform their leadership and to take on the challenges of charter management in a truly effective way.
Dr. David B. Ross, Program Professor, Nova Southeastern University
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Break Out Room D
Track: School Leadership
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
Working Backwards – Key to Quality Renewals
This session focuses on strategies to proactively plan for renewal of petitions. Looking at expectations of authorizers and key learnings from the initial charter term, the facilitators will discuss practices that will position your school well for renewal and help ensure ongoing academic success and financial sustainability.
Sarina Russotto, Legal Specialist Charter Schools Division, Georgia Department of Education
Douglas Thaman, Director, Professional Services, National Association of Charter School Authorizers
Laura Stowell, Fulton County Schools’ Charter School Liaison, Fulton County Board of Education
Allen Mueller, Coordinator of Charter Schools, Atlanta Public Schools
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Cole Room
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
Three Years In – What I Wish I Knew
Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Listen to two founders of charter schools who have lived and learned the planning, development, and implementation of quality charter schools. Take away lessons as a new petitioner or new school that will save you time and money and ensure you can focus on your mission.
Dr. Gary Martin, Executive Director, Hapeville Charter School and Hapeville Charter Career Academy
Kelly Cadman, Director of Education and Training, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Break Out Room H
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 3:45-5:15
Living on an Island – Being Your Own LEA
As a State Chartered Special School or Commission approved school, being your own LEA presents opportunities, responsibilities, and challenges other charter schools just won’t ever face. How are you funded? Who do you turn to for help? How does being your own charter school impact SPED, data reporting, organizational structure, and budget? Learn about your responsibilities, and explore ways to address issues and maximize opportunities with three people who have been there, done that and continue to thrive.
Andy Geeter, Director, Odyssey School
Nina Gilbert, Head of School, Ivy Preparatory Academy
Dr. Kathy Harwood, Director, Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts & Technology
Time/Place: 3:45-5:15, Break Out Room G
Track: Charter Development
Thursday, March 11th 4:40-5:25
Georgia 4-H Environmental Education: Rigorous, Relevant & Relationship – Building
Georgia 4-H Environmental Education has provided high quality field studies for 30 years. Aligned to the GPS, our programs use the outdoors as a classroom without walls and enhance the 3 R’s of education. We have five 4-H Centers from the mountains to the sea, allowing K-12th students to experience specific ecosystems across Georgia. Hear how charters can partner with Georgia 4-H and expand to expand academic programs and student engagement.
Melanie Biersmith, Extension 4‐H Specialist, University of Georgia, Georgia 4‐H
Matt Hammons, Rock Eagle 4‐H Center Environmental Education Coordinator, UGA ‐ Rock Eagle 4‐H Center
Time/Place: 4:40-5:25, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Breakout Sessions
Friday, March 12th
Friday, March 12th 8:30-10:10
Leading Your School During a Crisis and Managing Risks
It can be very challenging to effectively lead your school when crisis and instability hit. Good leaders have to remain positive and focused on teaching and learning at all times, while secretly preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. Two school leaders will discuss some of the crises they have faced and successfully navigated. A public relations expert will discuss various sources of crisis that are common in charter schools and will provide practical strategies for being proactive and handling the unexpected.
Nina Gilbert, Head of School, Ivy Preparatory Academy
Jill Kaechele, Principal, Neighborhood Charter School
Seth Coleman, Director of Communications, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 8:30-10:10, Break Out Room D
Track: School Leadership
Friday, March 12th 8:30-9:15
Effective EMO and Service Provider Oversight
Many schools are finding the services of Educational Management Companies increasingly attractive. This session focuses on cultivating an appropriate relationship between boards and EMOs and will specifically focus on oversight and contract negotiations. Boards who are currently contracted with EMOs or those considering a partnership are encouraged to attend.
Sarina Russotto, Legal Specialist Charter Schools Division, Georgia Department of Education
Douglas Thaman, Director, Professional Services, National Association of Charter School Authorizers
Time/Place: 8:30-9:15, Break Out Room G
Track: Performance & Accountability
Friday, March 12th 8:30-9:15
Plant a Seed. Grow Curiosity!
Explore science lessons that incorporate best practices, technology, and literacy which make teachers legendary in their student’s eyes. Free workshop materials are included.
Darrick Wood, South Central Science Consultant, Delta Education
Time/Place: 8:30-9:15, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Friday, March 12th 8:30-10:00
Technology in the Classroom: Planning and Implementation for Charter School Leaders
Are you in currently considering technology requirements for your school? Would you like to purchase
desperately needed technology to enhance instructional practices and increase student achievement in
your school? Join us for a facilitated discussion based on technology planning and implementation
topics which include school infrastructure, hardware and software selection, teacher professional
development, communications, and most importantly, financial requirements. The session will allow
Charter School Leaders to share best practices amongst those present.
Dr. Graysen Walles, Lead Administrator, Elite Scholars Academy
Asif Jessani, Marketing and Technology Consultant, Complete Computer Solutions
Time/Place: 8:30-10:00, Cole Room
Track: Operations
Time/Place: 8:30-10:00, Cole Room
Track: Operations
Friday, March 12th 8:30-9:15
Sustainability & Fundraising Strategies For Your School
Charter schools must continually fundraise and “friend-raise” in order to survive. This panel of development experts, representing three “stages” of the charter school lifecycle, will share their strategies and struggles for school sustainability.
Alicia Brady, Development Officer and Decade-long funder of Charles R. Drew Charter School East Lake Foundation
Peggy Brooks, Marketing and Development Consultant
Time/Place: 8:30-9:15, Break Out Room C
Track: Operations
Friday, March 12th 8:30-9:15
Risks & Rules that Can Sink a Charter School
Charter schools vary considerably, but there is at least one thing that is true for all: the regular rules impacting public education don’t neatly apply to them. In fact, figuring out what requirements, rules and opportunities constrain a particular charter school is both challenging and extremely important for the school’s success. The strongest schools and networks build this knowledge into their DNA and their strategies for growth. This session will help school leaders think through risks, roadblocks and rules before taking an informed, proactive approach to operations and growth.
Paul O’Neill, President and Founder, Tugboat Education Services
Time/Place: 8:30-9:15, Break Out Room E
Track: Charter Development
Friday, March 12th 8:30-10:00
A Positive School Climate is the Academic Edge
This session reviews research that indicates students who are in a caring environment – one that meets their needs of autonomy, belonging and competence – build an attachment to school and a renewed desire to learn and improve their academic achievement. See how using this research can help you foster a school culture and climate that will lead to strong academic outcomes.
Dr. Susan S. Young, National Education Consultant, Developmental Studies Center
Time/Place: 8:30-10:00, Break Out Room H
Track: Operations
Friday, March 12th 9:25-10:10
Charter and IB: The Perfect Marriage
A perfect marriage in education is not impossible. The presenters will discuss the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (grades 6-10) and how chartering has helped them to raise the student achievement through best practices and instructional technology integration while increasing student’s global experiences and awareness.
Linda Loving, International Baccalaureate/Smaller Learning Communities Coordinator, Dougherty Comprehensive High School
Marcel Loving, Graduation Coach, Dougherty International Education Middle School
Time/Place: 9:25-10:10, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Friday, March 12th 9:25-10:10
The First Free Technology Solution for Assessment & Diagnostics
The president & Co-Founder of LinkIt! Software will demonstrate the company’s FREE technology tools designed to optimize the process of creating, delivering, and scoring assessments. Learn how this platform can help you monitor every child’s progress and collect data for RTI and differentiating instruction. Attendees will be able to preview the software’s detailed diagnostic reports first hand and learn how to use them for differentiated instruction.
Joshua Powe, President and Co-Founder, LinkIt! Software
Time/Place: 9:25-10:10, Break Out Room C
Track: Performance & Accountability
Friday, March 12th 9:25-10:10
Georgia’s Commission Lawsuit – How Does It Compare To Lawsuits Against Alternative Authorizers In Other States?
The Georgia Charter Schools Commission, like alternative authorizers in other states, currently finds itself embroiled in a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of its existence and authority. This session will compare the underlying facts, the legislation at issue, and the governing law. Discuss potential outcomes of the Georgia litigation and examine the potential consequences to charter education in Georgia.
Alexa Ross , Esq., Member, RobbinsLaw LLC
Time/Place: 9:25-10:10, Break Out Room E
Track: Performance & Accountability
Friday, March 12th 9:25-10:10
Enrollment Best Practices
Charter schools are required to implement a transparent and equitable enrollment process. There are many “gray” areas in enrollment practices that are not addressed in the law explicitly but that face charters every year, particularly new charters. Learn key practices for developing forms and practices that are legally compliant, efficient, and transparent.
Tabitha Press, Grants Coordinator, Charter School Division, Georgia Department of Education
Kelly Cadman, Director of Education and Training, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 9:25-10:10, Break Out Room G
Track: Operations
Friday, March 12th 10:30-11:15
Retire With Financial Dignity
ValuTeachers recognizes education is the key to educators Retiring With Financial Dignity. Paula Smith recognized this need as she was a retired educator of 20+ years. Paula has built a company of educators for educators. It is Paula’s MISSION to make sure every educator learns how to Retire With Financial Dignity.
Paula Smith, President and Former Teacher, ValuTeachers
Time/Place: 10:30-11:15, Break Out Room C
Track: Operations
Friday, March 12th 10:30-12:00
Founding and Leadership Challenges
Developing and running a charter school is a tremendous responsibility. This session will provide helpful insight into key responsibilities and considerations in developing, implementing, running and leading a high quality charter school. Several development opportunities will be shared as well that will benefit new founding groups and new charter school leaders.
Kelly Cadman, Director of Education and Training, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Eric Paisner, Organizational Strategy Director, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
Juli Sergi, Professional Learning Coordinator
Time/Place: 10:30-12:00, Cole Room
Track: School Leadership
Friday, March 12th 10:30-11:15
Making the Media Work for You!
Looking to get media attention for your school? Learn what types of ideas the news outlets are looking for, as well as the best way to present your story so that it captures the attention of an editor or news producer. Two seasoned journalists present traditional, as well as creative, ways to Make the Media Work for You!
Doug Blackmon, Southeast Bureau Chief, Wall Street Journal
Seth Coleman, Director of Communications, Georgia Charters Schools Association
Von Harden, Managing Partner, Buzz Brilliance
Time/Place: 10:30-11:15, Break Out Room H
Track: School Leadership
Friday, March 12th 10:30-11:15
Website Creation Using Google Sites: Free and Easy for Teachers and Students
Looking for an easy-to-learn, free, and functional website authoring and hosting program? In this “bring your own laptop” session you will create an informative and collaborative website and discover how your students also can. Accessing the Internet, you’ll add links and a variety of features to your website.
Dr. Lars Leader, Curriculum, Leadership, & Technology, Valdosta State University
Time/Place: 10:30-11:15, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
Friday, March 12th 10:30-11:15
How Flexible is a Conversion School
Conversion charters are unique entities – traditional public schools transitioning to a charter with programs, services, staff, and philosophies that differ from the district schools. But how different are conversions, and how flexible can you be with your charter? Find out how to maximize the privilege of your charter to get the best results as a conversion school.
Linda M. Zechmann, Member, Georgia State Board of Education
Jason Martin, Education Research and Evaluation Specialist, Charter Schools Division Georgia Department of Education
Douglas S. Rosenbloom, Attorney at Law, Douglas S. Rosenbloom, LLC
Time/Place: 10:30-11:15, Break Out Room D
Track: Performance & Accountability
Friday, March 12th 10:30-12:00
Quality Authorizing – What Every Authorizer & Petitioner Should Know and Do
Authorizers have an important job of ensuring a rigorous and fair process for evaluating prospective charter schools. National, state, commission, and district authorizers will discuss best practices for authorizers and how petitioners can position themselves for approval and renewal.
Andrew Broy, Associate Superintendent, Policy, External Affairs, and Charter Schools, Georgia Department of Education
Allen Mueller, Coordinator of Charter Schools, Atlanta Public Schools
Time/Place: 10:30-12:00, Break Out Room G
Track: Charter Development
Friday, March 12th 10:30-12:00
Parent Advocacy Workshop
Across the nation parents have become a potent force in the charter school movement. As voters and as charter school advocates, parents are launching new schools, turning failing schools around, and letting legislators know they care about quality public school choices. This 90 minute workshop will introduce you to effective ways you can amplify your support for charter schools in Georgia. Find out about technical support and training for charter school petitioners. Learn about G-PAN, an exciting new grassroots organization that will unite parents around the state of Georgia who want the best possible public education for their children. Speakers will include staff from the Georgia Charter Schools Association, parent leaders from local charter schools, and legislative activists who support school choice.
Councilman Mike Mcnabb (Smyrna), Parent advocate, Imagine International Academy of Smyrna
Caletha Powell, Parent Advocate, University Community Academy, Atlanta
David Morgan, Executive Director, Alliance for School Choice
Tony Roberts, CEO, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Andrew Lewis, Chief Programming Officer, Georgia Charter Schools Association
Time/Place: 10:30-12:00, Break Out Room E
Track: Governance, Advocacy & Policy
Friday, March 12th 11:25-12:10
Taking EIP to the Next Level Through RTI Based Literacy Centers
As schools wade through RTI, teachers need time, resources, and training to provide struggling readers with interventions. Drew Charter’s Literacy Center, funded through Title I, serves as a model to provide research-based strategies to students in and out of the classroom. Using Drew’s model, attendees will create their own intervention framework.
Nicole Tuttle, Director of Literacy, Charles R. Drew Charter School
Time/Place: 11:25-12:10, Break Out Room D
Track: Curriculum
Friday, March 12th 11:25-12:10
Data Diving (Data Collection 101)
This session is a jumpstart to using school/classroom/and community data to improve student achievement. An attendee will walk away with an understanding of the typical data collection requirements within a school, an effective Response to Intervention plan template, and additional action plans which can be used in all areas of academic achievement.
Stacy Henry, Data Support Specialist, Georgia Magnet Charter – Hapeville Charter
Time/Place: 11:25-12:10, Break Out Room C
Track: Curriculum
Friday, March 12th 11:25-12:10
Helping Children Who Have Behavioral and Attention Issues in the Classroom
One of the greatest challenges in schools today is handling children who have behavioral and attention issues in the classroom. Schools and their classrooms should be designed to facilitate learning so students feel safe physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Topics will be discussed that will support creation ofa learning organization for all stakeholders.
Dr. David B. Ross, Program Professor, Nova Southeastern University
Time/Place: 11:25-12:10, Break Out Room I
Track: Curriculum
