TOWN HALL LA AND CORWIN HOST CONFERENCE ON BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

Los Angeles, CA – Tuesday, January 25, 2011 – “Full STEAM Ahead! Classroom Techniques for Leveraging California’s Creative Economy,” is a two-day conference presented by Town Hall Los Angeles and Corwin for educators and business leaders on best practices of K-12 public STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) that emphasize 21st century work force requirements. It takes place  February 3 – 4, 2011, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. By emphasizing the good work of teachers, the conference shifts the focus to what works despite changes in funding and legislation.
 

K-12 public school teachers attend the conference for free thanks to the generosity of  Corwin Press, The Boeing Company, City National Bank, Bank of the West, and anonymous donors.
 
 
 “We need to make sure our teachers have the support and effective classroom techniques they need to help students develop the skills that businesses are looking for—skills like creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking,” said Mike Soules, President of Corwin. “That is why Corwin has teamed up with Town Hall LA to bring people together from education and business to talk about how we can prepare today’s students to be leaders in tomorrow’s workforce.”
 

Thursday night begins with a celebration of arts, technology and teachers including  H2O - Hollywood High School Choir, 2010 MacArthur Foundation Fellow Amir Abo-Shaeer, Dr. Bill Smoot, Author, “Conversations with Great Teachers,” and dinner speaker, Lance Rougeux, Director, Discovery Educator Network.
 

Friday begins with comments from Lindsay Krejcarek, Systems Engineer, Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems Engineering Rotation Program and Dr. Melany Hunt, Vice Provost, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology.  Friday’s luncheon speaker is Anthony Wilder Miller, Deputy Secretary, US Department of Education.
 

Friday sessions are “What Do Teachers Need from Business,” “What Does Business Need from Teachers,” “Effective Tools - Math & Sciences,” and “Effective Tools – Arts.”
 

Session speakers are Kim Abeles, Artist / Educator; David Baia, Accenture; Nan Bouchard, The Boeing Company; Tara Chklovski, Iridescent Learning; RG Conlee, Affiliated Computer Services Inc;  Mark German, Corwin Press; Dean Gilbert, LA County Office of Education; William Habermehl, Orange County Department of Education; Teresa Hoffman, City National Bank; Lois Hunter, LA Music Center Bravo Award Winner; Dr. Laurie Inman, En Corps; Gregory Irish, LA Workforce Investment Board; Jan Kirsch, Inner-City Arts; Ray Mellado, Great Minds in STEM; Michael Morgan, MIT Inspirational Teacher Award.
 

And, Helen Papadopoulos, Algebra Teacher, California Teacher of the Year; Dr. Kadhir Rajagopal, Math Teacher, California Teacher of the Year; Joseph Rivera, The Gas Company; Lisa Ruiz, LA Music Center Bravo Award Winner; Domingo & Evelyn Torres-Rangel, Math Teachers, MESA Dedication Award Winners; Christi Wilkins, Dramatic Results; Susan Wuerer, California Art Education Association; and Dr. Kichoon Yang, National Council of Mathematics Teachers.
 

Corwin, a SAGE company, was established in 1990 to provide solutions for Pre K–12 educators. Corwin produces books and multimedia resources that range from very practical, experience-based resources to more reflective or research-based titles, and are written for a diverse set of professionals—principals, administrators, specialists, teachers, counselors, consultants, teacher educators, and collegiate-level students. www.corwin.com.
 

TOWN HALL Los Angeles is nonpartisan, nonprofit and counted among the Top 10 Leadership Forums in the nation; visit www.townhall-la.org.