Eureka! One Great Conference Leads to Another!

by Karen Baggiano

The National Conference was a Monumental Success

Shortly after returning home, attendees of the 16th Core Knowledge National Conference held in Washington, DC were given the opportunity to comment on their conference experience.  Over 2,300 surveys were e-mailed to conference attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Survey feedback is an important planning tool for future conferences.  The survey is becoming one of the most important parts of our conference planning. Over 36% of you took the time to answer the survey — a remarkable response rate! Average response rates fall in the twentieth percentile. Here’s a sample of what you had to say:

It was very exciting and enlightening to be able to see firsthand how others handle various topics. There was such a wide range of workshops to choose from, that I had to make tough choices.

The teachers that I met were great at sharing ideas. I found out that everyone has the same problems like homework and parent involvement.  

Rafe Esquith

For the first time during a Core Knowledge national conference, two-hour workshops were scheduled.  These workshops were such a great success that they will continue to be a part of future conferences.  In fact, two-hour workshops will be scheduled on both days of the regional conference and several will be repeated to allow more attendees the opportunity to attend the workshops of their choice.

Reach New Heights in Educational Excellence at the Core Knowledge Regional Conference

The Crowne Plaza in Colorado Springs will host the first Core Knowledge Regional Conference November 9–10, 2007. The Core Knowledge Foundation will use the two-day event to launch the new School Showcase initiative.

The Core Knowledge School Showcase will provide Core Knowledge visitation schools with the resources to hold a one-day meeting in their local areas. A team of Core Knowledge consultants and the conference staff are working on a school showcase handbook to make planning at the local school level smooth and efficient. The handbook will also make it easier for schools to organize and host a mission-driven, content-rich showcase at the best venues available — schools that have been designated as Core Knowledge Visitation sites!

The Core Knowledge Regional Conference features two keynote sessions. Long-time Core Knowledge champion Dr. Dennis Denenberg will speak on character education and heroes at 3:30 pm Friday, November 9. The keynote session on Saturday, November 10 welcomes back scientist and educator Michael DiSpezio with an interactive presentation on how we learn.

Based on the overwhelming response we received about the two-hour workshops that we offered at the national conference in Washington, DC, workshops by subject-area experts and Core Knowledge consultants will be offered during every session block in Colorado.

The “Best of the Best” units written by teachers in Core Knowledge schools will be presented on both days of the conference. Core Knowledge consultants will present implementation sessions and overviews of professional development workshops currently available from the Core Knowledge Foundation. A CD containing all units, overviews and implementation sessions will be provided to each conference attendee.

The opportunity to network is always an important part of any Core Knowledge conference. The 2007 Core Knowledge Regional Conference will feature two networking opportunities.  A meet and greet welcoming reception will be held on the evening of Thursday, November 8, 2007. Subject and grade specific roundtables will bring an end to the conference day on Friday, November 9, 2007. 

If you weren’t able to attend this year’s conference, be sure to view the photo gallery here, and don’t feel bad because it is only six short months until the 2007 Core Knowledge Regional Conference! See you there!

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