Every Child Counts: A Symposium Dedicated to Ending the Achievement Gap
An overview of the symposium
Thursday, October 25
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi
- State Education Commissioner Richard Mills
- Keynote Address: Donna Brazile
Scenes from the Symposium
- Photos: Thursday evening | Donna Brazile
Friday, October 26
Plenary Session
Panel Discussion
- "What Can We Do Within the School Community to Raise Student Achievement?"
- Ronald Ferguson, Harvard University
- David Shaffer, Business Council of New York State
- Johanna Duncan-Poitier, New York State Education Department
- Manuel Rivera, Deputy Secretary for Education
- Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers
Lunch Speaker
Program Sessions
- Effective Early Childhood Education
- Equity and Equality-Education Finance
- Looking To the Future: Preparing Our Teacher and Leadership Corps
- Raising Achievement for English Language Learners
- Teacher Quality, Recruitment and Retention
- The Union's Role
- Career and Technical Education
- The Role of Remediation In Closing the Achievement Gap
- Public School Facilities: Providing Environments That Sustain Learning
- Parent and Family Engagement - Why It Matters and How to Encourage More of It
Plenary Session
Scenes from the Symposium
- Photos: Friday sessions
Saturday, October 27
Plenary Session
Panel Discussion
- "Making a Better Connection Between the School and Community: The community's role in raising achievement"
- Norm Fruchter, director, Community Involvement Program, Annenberg Institute for School Reform
- Karen Scharff, executive director, Citizen Action
- Debbie Benson, acting executive director, NYS Children and Family Services
- Gene Rodriguez, Capital District Worker Center
- Maria DeWald, president of the state Congress of Parents and Teachers
- Rev. Dr. Edward B. Smart, pastor of Israel A.M.E. Church, Albany
Open Forum
Scenes from the Symposium
- Photos: Saturday sessions
Video
Streaming video of conference speakers requires Windows Media Player.
About the Symposium
'Summit targets most pressing issues in schools'
More than 400 community leaders and key stakeholders in education, state government and business gathered Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, to kick off a unique three-day summit devoted to the most pressing issue facing New York's schools - an achievement gap that leaves behind far too many children.
NYSUT's conference, "Every Child Counts: A symposium dedicated to ending the Gap," opened to a packed hall at the Desmond Hotel in Colonie. After expanding registration twice, the symposium regretfully had to turn away some individuals, said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue, who oversaw the planning for the event.
The opening night, which featured NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi, State Education Commissioner Richard Mills, and noted media commentator and national political strategist Donna Brazile, also attracted a great deal of media attention.
The symposium continues Friday and Saturday with thought-provoking discussions on problems affecting students who live in poverty and, disproportionately, children of color. It features national experts in education, urban sociology, language development and community involvement.
In his opening remarks, Iannuzzi challenged participants to open their minds, take risks and focus on "what might work instead of what doesn't."