New Wisconsin Promise Conference draws 1,500

Wisconsin teachers and administrators gathered January 9-10 for the annual New Wisconsin Promise Conference in Madison. The New Wisconsin Promise Conference is the state’s largest and most comprehensive professional development conference for educators. The conference focused on providing information and strategies to close the achievement gap.

The four conference tracks, Literacy, Mathematics, Engagement in Learning, and School Improvement for Systemic Change, were connected to the Wisconsin Quality Educator Initiative (PI 34) standards for administrators, educators, and pupil services staff. Conference participants had the opportunity to focus on a single strand or sample highlights from several subject areas. National experts on school reform, mathematics, and literacy shared their expertise. Presenters from Wisconsin schools and districts also shared their success stories and strategies.

Conference presentations included Rick and Becky DuFour speaking on Building the Collaborative Culture of a Professional Learning Community. They said powerful collaborative teams are the fundamental building block of a professional learning community, and a critical component in building a collaborative culture. Their presentation addressed ways to provide time and support for collaborative teams, thereby increasing team effectiveness and productivity.

J.P. Leary and Adrienne Thunder spoke on Teaching for Change: Recognizing and Overcoming Stereotypical Representations. Their workshop was designed to help educators design approaches to teaching about people of different cultures. The presentation focused on representations of American Indians as the basis for discussions about how schools address issues of cultural similarities and differences. Information presented can serve as a model for similar studies of other cultures.

Dr. Douglas Reeves, CEO and founder of the Center for Performance Assessment, an international organization dedicated to improving student achievement and educational equity, addressed how to improve student achievement through practical and constructive approaches to standards, assessment, and accountability. Beyond his work in large-scale assessment and research, Dr. Reeves has devoted many years to classroom teaching, from elementary students to doctoral candidates.

The annual New Wisconsin Promise conference is designed to share workable ideas and practical models to support the goal of providing every child in Wisconsin the opportunity for a quality education, and to give educators an opportunity to enhance their practices to meet the ever-evolving needs of students.

Last updated on 1/16/2007