Education Leaders Organize Inaugural Summit
by October 24, 2012 1:22 pm 75 views
A unique event that will aim to improve overall classroom performance for students in alternative learning environments is planned Thursday in Springdale.
Dr. Tom Kimbrell, the Arkansas Education Commissioner, will be among the presenters at the inaugural Northwest Arkansas Graduation-for-All Summit at the Jones Center for Families.
More than 100 school officials from Benton and Washington counties will attend the event, which starts at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m.
Dr. Marsha Jones, associate superintendent for the Springdale School District, said organizers are hoping to bring awareness, so all students can have a successful path toward graduation.
“We need to make sure we as educators can support the struggling learner,” she said. “Just like every student, they also need to be college and career ready.”
Organizers of the event include the Northwest Arkansas Education Services Cooperative, the Northwest Arkansas Council’s Educational Excellence work group, and numerous teachers, counselors, administrators and student representatives from area school districts.
“One of Northwest Arkansas Council’s goals is to help facilitate programs and events that improve students’ overall performance in the classroom,” said John Brown III, chairman of the Educational Excellence work group. “Our school partners are extremely interested in seeing our alternative learning environments become more focused.”
Presentations and discussions at the summit will focus on how to better address the Common Core State Standards, adopted in 45 states including Arkansas.
The standards apply to all students, including those in alternative learning environments.