Newcomers' Session
The Newcomers' Session, at 1:15 PM on Thursday, Oct. 15, was an introduction to the conference and to the NNER's work for those attending for the first time. Facilitated by Stephanie Kenney and Barry Graff, the session provided background about our mission, which serves as the foundation for all conference sessions, and gave an overview of the conference proceedings, with time for Q&A. Having this orientation at the beginning of each conference supports one of the NNER's most important goals, developing collegial networks.
Opening Keynote Panel
The conference began on Thursday, October 15 with the opening plenary panel of internationally recognized educational leaders:
- Deborah Meier
- John Goodlad
- James Comer
- Henry Levin
Carl Glickman, President of the Institute for Schools, Education, and Democracy, moderated the panel along with George Wood, the founder of The Forum for Education and Democracy. [For bios of all panelists and moderators, click here.]
Their comments built on their stories highlighted in a newly released book, Those Who Dared: Five Visionaries Who Changed American Education, edited by Glickman. The publisher, Teacher's College Press, notes:
For decades, practically every major initiative in American education (from top-down standards to the testing movement) has moved decision-making farther away from the school. Throughout their careers, Deborah Meier, John Goodlad, James Comer, Ted Sizer, and Henry Levin have been at the forefront of the fight against this trend, working to give our schools back the ability to educate students in the broadest and richest traditions of activity, inquiry, and problem solving. Now these visionary educators have joined together to share their personal stories of the challenges and triumphs they faced in the classroom, and their ideas of what education can and should be for every student.
The opening panel session was followed by the 2009 NNER Welcome Reception.
Welcome Reception
Welcome Reception
For Conference Registrants, Thursday early evening, October 15 after the opening panel presentations.
Friday Keynote:
Foreshadowing the Future of Public Schools in the United States
Presenters: Dr. Patricia Wasley, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington; and Dr. Vicki Phillips, Director of Education, United States Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dean Wasley and Dr. Phillips shared their thoughts about the short-term and long-term issues that public schools will face over the coming decade. Dean Wasley has been involved in public-school renewal for over 25 years. She was a student of John Goodlad, has worked extensively with Ted Sizer and the Coalition of Essential Schools, was Dean of Bank Street College, and has been Dean at the University of Washington for ten years.
Beginning her education career as a middle and high school teacher, Vicki Phillips has held superintendent positions with the Lancaster School District in Pennsylvania, and, most recently, with the Portland Public Schools in Oregon. She previously held major policymaking positions as secretary of education and chief state school officer for the State of Pennsylvania, as well as with the U.S. Dept. of Education in Washington, D.C., and with the Kentucky Department of Education. She has been with the Gates Foundation since 2007.
Leadership Cohort Reunions
Reunion of Leadership Associates Cohorts
Friday, October 16, 5:45-7:30 p.m.
CEDAR BALLROOM A (Cascade Tower)
Wilma Smith convened a reunion of the Leadership Associates Cohorts (1992-2007). During this reunion leadership cohort participants renewed old acquaintances and had the opportunity to chat with the faculty from their “old training days."
Film Screening
Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up
Friday, 5:45 - 7:15 PM
MADRONA ROOM (3rd floor, Cascade Tower)
Straightlaced shows the pressures on the lives of American teens around gender and sexuality. It showcases diverse and unscripted voices of more than 50 youth from a wide range of high schools, who speak with breathtaking honesty, insight, and humor about gender roles and the struggle to be who they really are.
Musical Performance
The Cavern Story
moved to Saturday, 11:00 AM
AUDITORIUM, 3RD FLOOR, in Evergreen Ballroom-DEF, Olympic Tower
Performed by: Brooklyn College Academy World Ensemble
Directed by: Laurie Friedman-Adler
The BCA World Ensemble is a musical group in which students learn to perform on non-traditional instruments collected from various cultures. The non-traditional instruments were collected from the following cultures: African, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Hebrew, Egyptian, Afghani, Irish, English, Russian, Native American, and various Latin American nations. Every student has a responsibility to learn not only the technical aspects of their instrument, but also the cultural and historical significance.
Keynote Talk: Nel Noddings
"Happiness and Education"
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Nel Noddings is among the leading figures in the field of educational philosophy. She is Professor of Philosophy and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Lee L. Jacks Professor of Child Education Emerita at Stanford University.
Her work has included analysis of caring and its place in ethics (Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education, 1984), and an attempt to rethink evil from the perspective of women (Women and Evil, 1989). She has written; a series of books that have explored the implications of a concern for caring in education (The Challenge to Care in Schools, 1992; Educating Moral People, 2002; Happiness and Education, 2003).
Dr. Noddings holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Montclair State College, New Jersey; a master's degree in mathematics from Rutgers University, New Jersey; and a doctorate in educational philosophy from Stanford University. From 1949 to 1972, Dr. Noddings was an elementary and high school teacher and administrator in the New Jersey public schools.
After receiving her Ph.D. in 1975, and serving brief periods of time on the faculties of Pennsylvania State University and the University of Chicago (where she directed the University's Laboratory School), Nel Noddings joined the faculty at Stanford in 1977. At Stanford, she was recognized as an outstanding teacher and served in various positions including acting dean of the School of Education. In 1992, she was named the Jacks Professor of Child Education - a position she held until she retired in 1998. She went on to teach philosophy of education at Columbia University until 2000. In 2001 she held the A. Lindsay O'Connor Professorship of American Institutions at Colgate University and has also held the Libra Professorship at the University of Southern Maine. Nel Noddings is a former president of the Philosophy of Education Society and the John Dewey Society.
Invited Expert Study Panels
The 2009 Conference featured eight expert study panels to assist the NNER in dealing with a set of important issues.
Award Presentations / Luncheons
Announcements of our award recipients were made during the Friday and Saturday luncheon sessions. Link to more details .
Luncheons
Hosted luncheons were scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 16 and 17.
QUESTIONS
If you have questions, please contact the Conference Office at nner2009@u.washington.edu or 206-543-1537.