The following Priority Notice was sent to superintendents.
Dear Superintendents,
I am writing to let you know registration is now open for our 105th Annual Commissioner’s Conference for Superintendents, scheduled for June 26-28 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
We’re looking forward to seeing you there and excited about how the agenda – developed in collaboration with the Maine School Superintendents Association – is coming together to best focus on the topics we continue to hear are of most importance to you.
Draft conference agenda to include:
Sunday, June 26 (Registration opens at 2 p.m.)
Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA) Reception and Awards Banquet (Networking reception sponsored by Apple – 5 p.m./Dinner – 6 p.m./Awards – 7 p.m.)
Monday, June 27 (Registration opens at 7:15 a.m. and breakfast opens at 7:45 a.m.)
General session
Commissioner’s Welcome, Acting Education Commissioner Dr. Bill Beardsley
General session
Keynote Address by Dr. David Silvernail with comments by Catherine Barbour and Carmen Coleman
Concurrent sessions (3) – Continue the keynote discussion with one of the on-site experts
- Dr. David Silvernail – is a well published author through the University of Southern Maine’s Center for Education Policy, Applied Research, and Evaluation. The Professor Emeritus and Research Professor has co-authored numerous articles centering around Maine’s Proficiency-Based Diploma Systems, Implementing District-Level High School Graduation Policies, Challenges Faced by Maine School Districts in Providing High Quality Public Education, Pathways to College Readiness in Maine, The Impacts of Public Charter Schools on Students and Traditional Public Schools, Maine’s Improving Schools, and more.
- Catherine Barbour – is a principal technical assistance consultant for school turnaround services. She is a credentialed School Turnaround Leader, earning her certificate from the Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education. She has led three successful school turnarounds as a principal each respectively in an urban, rural, and suburban school district. Barbour’s focus is helping schools, districts and states to implement successful turnaround and transformation services. You can view her complete bio here.
- Carmen Coleman – is an associate clinical professor at the University of Kentucky where she works with the National Center for Innovation in Education and the Next Generation Leadership Academy. During her service as superintendent of Danville Independent Schools the district focus was to create a system of personalized learning, one with flexibility designed to inspire students to become strong and enthusiastic learners rather than those who can only clear test score hurdles. As result, Danville was chosen as one of the first Districts of Innovation in the state. You can view her complete bio here.
General session ESSA – Stakeholder Engagement and Discussions
Networking reception sponsored by HP
Dinner on your own
Tuesday, June 28
(Registration and Breakfast open at 7:15 a.m. Conference adjourns at 3:45 p.m.)
MSSA Business Meeting
Maine DOE Updates, Maine DOE Staff (General session) Concurrent sessions
- FERPA 101
- Certification – After the Cliff
Concurrent sessions
- Learning Through Technology – A Demonstration by Maine Schools
- Certification – Rules and Regulation Changes
- Construction – Revolving Renovation Funds and Other Updates
Concurrent sessions
- Proficiency-based Diploma and Special Education
- Equitable Access to Effective Educators
- Learning Through Technology – Leveraging Technology to Support Proficiency-based Diploma Work
Concurrent sessions
- Essential Programs and Services – Interim Reports
- Higher Education and Teacher Preparation
General session
Closing remarks, Acting Education Commissioner Dr. Bill Beardsley
Presenters are already working to prepare their conference materials, which will be posted as they become available here on the 2016 Commissioner’s Conference webpage. To register for the conference, please click here today. The fee for superintendents to attend the full conference is $200 and includes all sessions, meals and materials. For additional registration options including partial conference attendance, guest meals and discounted lodging opportunities, please click here.
We look forward to working with you June 26-28 in Bangor.
Sincerely,
Bill Beardsley, Acting Commissioner
Maine Department of Education