Educational Leadership Conference at TAMIU this Weekend
From student discipline issues to teacher induction and retention, Texas A&M International University's Third Annual Educational Leadership Conference promises to offer local and regional educators an opportunity to explore the current state of education Friday-Saturday, March 22-23 in the Western Hemispheric Trade Center, room 111.
Themed, "School Leadership: The Challenge Continues," the conference is organized by the University's College of Education and seeks to provide an important new forum for the exploration of issues that are impacting educational leadership across the country. The event, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Friday and continue at 7 a.m. Saturday, will attract local and regional educators, principals and members of school boards.
On-site registration is $85 for regular attendees and $50 for students. Continuing education credit is available for school board members.
Topics discussed will include legal issues, special education, effective school practices and leadership expectations for schools of tomorrow. The conference will also bring together eminent presenters and panelists for the two-day initative to help participants truly embrace the challenges of educational leadership today and tomorrow.
One of the presenters is Jim Walsh, co-founder and senior partner with the law firm of Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Shulze & Aldridge, in Austin, San Antonio and Irving. Walsh will speak on "Special Education Student Discipline Issues."
Also a presenter, Philip Marzec, is the lead litigation attorney for the firm of Escamilla & Poneck, Inc. in San Antonio. Marzec will present on "Open Records," including operational concerns and recent case law.
Dr. Roberto Zamora, Superintendent of La Joya Independent School District in La Joya, Texas, will speak on "Educational Leadership Today and Tomorrow" and address the issue of leadership expectations and the role of all educations in the learning community, form the custodian to the school board president.
Dr. Danita Bailey, director of The Center For The Pedagogy of African American Learners and an assistant professor in the department of educational leadership and foundations at Texas Southern University, will speak on "Teacher Induction and Retention." She will also lead a panel discussion of university staff from Kingsville, Corpus Christi and Laredo university initiatives with school districts on induction and retention.
Tom Taylor, a veteran teacher of theater, speech and English and currently a theatre teacher at Killeen High School in Killeen, Texas will also be among the presenters. Taylor, who has appeared in Hollywood film, television and radio engagements such as the Dark Night of the Scarecrow, The Chisholm's, Resurrection, The White Lions, Dallas, and Voices in the Wind, is a composer of more than 700 songs and author of four children's books.
For further information, please call Dr. Humberto González, chair of the department of professional programs in the College of Education, at 326-2430 or e-mail hgonzalez@tamiu.edu University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu