AEC Announcement Release
San Francisco, Calif. – Featured speakers at this year’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show at the Moscone Center November 29-December 1 include bestselling authors and leading educational experts addressing the top educational issues facing California public schools. The conference, an 80-plus year statewide tradition, will be attended by nearly 2,800 school board members, superintendents and educators.
Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage and founder of Good Think Inc., spent more than a decade at Harvard University where he won numerous distinguished teaching awards and served as head teaching fellow for “Positive Psychology,” the most popular course at the time. His message to schools and all organizations is that individual happiness and organizational success are inextricably linked. Achor will speak at the Annual Conference’s general session Thursday, November 29 on the topic of positive leadership in challenging times and offer practical strategies for developing leadership, raising engagement, and ultimately improving student success.
On Friday, November 30, AEC’s general session speaker Susan Cain will offer unique insight featuring cutting-edge research in psychology and neuroscience to reveal surprising differences between extroverts and introverts. Cain’s presentation will explore the role of introverts in society and how their strengths and contributions are often undervalued. Author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking, and a self-described introvert, Cain will offer the best ways to tap into the strengths and develop the leadership skills of quiet students and school/district staff, as well as the vital role education systems can play in cultivating their talent.
The state’s premier continuing education program for governance team leaders, the AEC delivers practical solutions to help governance teams from districts and county offices of education improve student learning and achievement. While the quickly changing landscape of politics and public education continue to impact the work of school boards, CSBA is taking a leadership role in defining public education in California. This year’s program includes the following strands:
• Advocacy and Engagement –addressing the board member’s role of educating and engaging parents, community members, local government and media. Sessions include community engagement on difficult issues, parent engagement, marketing schools and bringing attention to public education’s successes.
• Community schools through partnerships and collaboration – addressing how communities work in partnership and collaboration to meet the needs of students for improved academic outcomes. Sessions include: government and municipal partnerships and community and non-profit support for public schools, and reaching students impacted by poverty and other challenging circumstances.
• The Digital Age –addressing the advances in digital technology and communications that are impacting the work that boards do and the way that students learn. Sessions include: 21st century learning environments, addressing the digital divide, social media training for board members, cyber bullying and sexting and technology for internal communication.
• Emerging Trends in Education - addressing the emerging issues that are impacting public education. Sessions include: the changing face of autism, the development of 21st century skill sets, school reform movements and current research that informs public education practice.
• Funding, Finance, and Facilities –addressing fiscal management, budget oversight, cost-cutting strategies and facilities planning. Sessions include: financing options for facilities, the greening of facilities, creative and innovative strategies in budgeting, health care and labor negotiations, and local, state and federal budget issues.
• Leadership through Governance -equipping board members with the tools and strategies to become effective agents of change. Sessions include: creating and maintaining a positive culture on the board, working together to elicit change in the face of adversity, crisis management skills, leadership through collaboration, characteristics of high functioning boards, implications of the California Voting Rights Act, and aligning goals with student achievement.
• Student Achievement – addressing the wide range of topics that fall under supporting high achievement for all students. Sessions include: professional development for improved academic outcomes, professional learning communities for heightened student achievement;, model programs that close the achievement gap, cultural sensitivity of student populations, linked learning, and creating policy and budgets to improve student achievement.
On Saturday, December 1, CSBA will present its prestigious Golden Bell Awards to school districts and county offices of education. Golden Bell Awards are earned by programs that are innovative and sustainable, make a demonstrated difference for students and focus on meeting the needs of all students.
CSBA is the non-profit education association representing the elected officials who govern public school districts and county offices of education. CSBA brings together school governing boards, and district and county office administrators to advocate for effective policies that advance the education and well-being of the state’s more than 6 million school-age children.