Al Gore had one heck of an opening act when he spoke recently at the Celebration of Teaching & Learning professional development conference in New York City. The last session before the former vice president's keynote speech featured NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.

Iannuzzi was a panelist for a March 24 discussion called " America's Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing Our Nation's Future," the final professional development session at the two-day event.

Iannuzzi's panel discussed, among other things, socioeconomic factors that contribute to the nation's gap in educational achievement at high-poverty and high-minority schools, and how that gap will affect the nation's future.

Under Iannuzzi's direction, NYSUT has been leading the charge in New York to help draw attention to the achievement gap and create educational equity in New York schools. The celebration, launched last year, draws thousands of K-12 educators and administrators from throughout the country by offering innovative panel discussions, booths from education vendors and renowned speakers.

Aside from Gore, the celebration also featured Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert, U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, Sesame Workshop CEO Gary Knell and astronaut Mae Jemison.

The event had a strong union flavor. Randi Weingarten, president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, NYSUT's largest affiliate, spoke as part of a panel on the tough choices America must make to improve urban education.

NYSUT's professional development division, the Education & Learning Trust, had a booth at the event, and two ELT instructors led a professional development session.

NYSUT members from across the state, particularly from New York City and Long Island, turned out in large numbers at the two-day celebration.

"Forums such as the Celebration of Teaching & Learning are an excellent way to bring stakeholders together to discuss the future of education in America," Iannuzzi said. "We're pleased that event organizers recognized that labor unions are important partners in helping to shape that future."

— Kevin Hart