Leakey ISD Trustees Attend TASA/TASB Convention in Houston on October 2-4, 2009
by Leakey ISD Webmaster
October 12, 2009
10/14/2009-News Release-Leakey Independent School District-Fred R. McNiel, Superintendent
Leakey ISD Trustees Attend TASA/TASB Convention in Houston on October 2-4, 2009
Leakey ISD Board members; Shawn Gray, Ruben Navarro, Charlie Reagor, and Beatsie Rubio, along with LISD Superintendent, Fred R. McNiel, joined more than 6,500 public school trustees, superintendents, and other education leaders October 2-4 at the TASA/TASB Convention held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The joint gathering in Houston for the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) focused on extensive training opportunities; distinguished speakers; and the latest information on public education issues, trends, and innovative programs. The annual convention is the largest training event of its kind for Texas public school trustees and chief administrators.
The LISD Trustees and Superintendent departed for Houston after the junior high football game on Thursday, October 1st. They took the school suburban and arrived in downtown Houston at the Crown Plaza hotel about midnight. The group met for breakfast at 7:00 a.m. the next morning and after a quick meal caught a convention shuttle bus that carried them to the convention center, located ten minutes from the hotel. For the next two days the LISD participants attended eight or nine ninety minute presentations, two general sessions and two distinguished lectures.
New this year in the exhibit hall was the Digital Learning Pavilion, an interactive look at a 21st century classroom. Attendees explored a fascinating digital environment that demonstrated ways to maximize a student’s potential of learning anytime and anywhere. In addition, the exhibit hall featured more than 400 vendors sharing products and services to aid school districts.
Friday’s first general session featured Alan November, an international leader in education technology. In his session, “Digital Learning Farm,” he pushed the boundaries of how to improve teaching and learning. His areas of expertise include planning across curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building, and leadership development.
On Saturday, keynote Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa shared his story of arriving in this country as an illegal migrant farm worker with less than $5 in his pocket. He now is an assistant professor of neurosurgery and oncology and director of the Brain Tumor Surgery Program at Johns Hopkins-Bayview. He stressed that such a journey is open to others, with hard work, determination, and the influence of mentors.
Distinguished lectures began Friday with Marc Prensky, who discussed ways to engage and connect students with learning. CEO of Games2train, Prensky is the leading expert on how today’s students learn. He stressed that students are in need of engaging approaches, more understanding of what motivates them, and 21st century skills.
Two national leaders were the focus of Saturday’s first distinguished lecture. Mike Resnick and Bruce Hunter spoke on federal education issues facing the United States under a new administration. Resnick, with the National Schools Boards Association, and Hunter, with the American Association of School Administrators, both are associate executive directors with their respective organizations.
Closing out the distinguished lectures late Saturday was Robert Scott, commissioner of education, who shared a progress report on the public school system. As head of the Texas Education Agency, Scott oversees the state’s 1,200 school districts and charter schools. A veteran education policy expert, he is responsible for the daily operations of the agency and the implementation and execution of key statewide initiatives.
Other convention highlights included announcement of the Honor School Board at Friday’s first general session and Superintendent of the Year at the second general session on Saturday. The seven Trustees of Weatherford ISD, were introduced, honored and recognized as the Honor School Board for 2009. Oscar Rodriguez Jr., the superintendent of Mission ISD was named the Superintendent of the Year.
The LISD Trustees arrived home Sunday afternoon in time to watch the Cowboys play football! They all agreed that the trip had been very productive and enlightening. At the Board meeting on October 12th, the Trustees who attended the convention briefed the other Board members on what sessions they had attended and what they had learned from participating in the convention. Next fall the convention will again be held in Houston. The administration of Leakey ISD wants to publicly thank these trustees for giving up their weekend to attend this important event!