Education Sessions in New Orleans!

There is plenty to learn at Conference this year!

Whether you are in a workshop, forum, immersion learning session, or service project, there are all kinds of sessions geared to all levels of learners.

Many workshops emphasize service learning as an important asset to education.

Check them out…

Maximizing the Impact of Service-Learning
Monday, June 6, 2011 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Room: MCCNO 237
Speaker: Shelley Billig
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5026

Successful service-learning leads to increased academic engagement, academic performance (including increased test scores), civic engagement, and positive social-emotional development.

However, without quality, research shows service-learning has little impact.

This session provides the research evidence and practical approaches to maximize the impact of participation in service-learning for youth and the community.

Multiple resources and hands-on activities will be provided.

Pathways to Innovation: Education
Monday, June 6, 2011 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Room: MCCNO 352
Speakers: Elson Nash, Colleen Hammelman, Rhoda Reddix, Kate Kavouras, Barbara Fisher, Traci Kirtley, Alissa Wachter
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5565

In this session, several presenters will pitch innovative solutions to the challenge of academic improvement followed by discussion.

A Promising Connection:
Increasing College Access and Success through Civic Engagement
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 242
Speaker: Maggie Stevens, Renee Zientek, Michelle Snigen
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5265

This session will explore the known research about the connection between civic engagement activities and college access and success and share best practices, data and evaluations two successful programs that have used service and service-learning as a strategy to increase college access and success.

Advocacy as Service: Education and Service-Learning Policy
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 235-236
Speaker: Kelita Svoboda Bak
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #eduadvocacy

Educators, parents, volunteers, and students—2011 is a year of national conversation on education reform, how will you make your voice heard?

With thousands of volunteers and national service members serving in schools and millions of students engaged in service-learning, many believe that active learning that recognizes contribution by young people works.

Adults and young people can raise their voice in concert for change that recognizes this approach to education. Join a national dialogue on education reform with leading policy advocates. Ask how you can get involved to ensure that youth have substantive opportunities to lead, serve, and learn.

Transforming 9-12 Public Education through University-Based Initiatives
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 237
Speaker: Emily Remington, Felicia R. Brown
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5459

In August 2005, Tulane University weathered Hurricane Katrina and emerged a stronger institution with renewed interest in the well being of its community.

The Scott Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives pioneers a new role for higher education to interact with K-12 public education systems.

The Institute’s initiatives include the Jones Scholars Internship Program and AdvanceNOLA.

Graduate students are paired with public schools supporting and improving college readiness.

AdvanceNOLA is an Advanced Placement training and incentive program in several public high schools in New Orleans; we have nearly 350 students enrolled in 20AP courses in schools that previously had none.

Gardens, Kitchens, Kids, and Charter Schools:
The Story of the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5686

Come experience edible education!

Learn how lessons are planned, how kids and families respond to the classes, and plans for expansion.

You will learn the history of our program and school, our strategies in volunteer engagement over five years and how thousands of volunteer hours transformed our campus.

Music Driven Service
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5685

Come experience music-driven service with the Artist Corps New Orleans!

They match the skills and gifts of accomplished musicians (volunteers) with the needs of New Orleans elementary schools.

The artists inspire young students while they protect and extend the cultural legacy of New Orleans.

Improve your Training to Volunteers Serving Children and Youth: Preview of New Curriculum Coming Out Soon
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Room: MCCNO 255-257
Speakers: Anna Marie Schmidt, Claudia Birmingham
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5116

Be the first to find out about the new Senior Corps mentoring curriculum designed to help your volunteers improve service to children, youth, and military families.

During this session, participants will review key components of the curriculum, cover training tips, and experience interactive activities to use with volunteers.

Walk-away materials for immediate use in training volunteers will be available.

Innovate to Educate: Community Solutions for Education Success
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Room: MCCNO La Nouvelle A-C
Speakers: Rhonda Ulmer, Tonya Ingram, Scott Cowen
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5022

This signature conference event will highlight innovative citizen driven solutions that are making an impact on the challenges of America’s education system.

We will be showcasing inspiring examples of cross sector partnerships that have resulted in tangible results for schools and students nationwide.

Hear from leaders in the education reform as well as special guests who have become a voice for the movement in a unique conference setting.

AmeriCorps Learning Community Meeting – Higher Education/Campus Compact
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 354
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5612

Come share with your peers your best practices, thoughts on the National Performance Measure Pilot, ideas for future programming and more.

AmeriCorps Learning Community Meeting – Indian Tribes
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 355
Twitter Hashtag: #americorps

Come share with your peers your best practices, thoughts on the National Performance Measure Pilot, ideas for future programming and more.

“It Takes a Village”: Lessons from the Volunteers of Boys Hope Girls Hope
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Speakers: Heidi Bergeron
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5290

For 30 years, BHGH New Orleans has provided a caring home and academic opportunities for youth in need.

Come to this hands-on session for a tour of BHGH homes, a panel discussion with volunteers, and a home repair service project at Boys Hope.

Service-Learning: Not Just for Schools
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Room: MCCNO 239
Speakers: Davida Gatlin, Diane Taylor, Kelly Bonventure
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #SL4ALL

While much formal learning traditionally takes place within schools, the importance of learning that takes place outside of school is becoming increasingly recognized.

In this workshop, participants will discover how the core principles of effective service-learning can enrich service activities in any setting, enabling organizations of all types to contribute to improving students’ academic performance.

During this interactive session, participants will identify learning opportunities that their organization is able to offer, design a portable project that brings learning into focus, and receive tools and resources for creating, implementing, and reflecting on service-learning projects in any setting.

AmeriCorps as a Statewide Strategy to Ensure Children Read Proficiently by 3rd Grade
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: MCCNO 242
Speakers: Sadie O’Connor, Sheila Piippo, Audrey Suker
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #americorps

Learn how it is possible to marry the power of AmeriCorps and the science of how kids learn to read in order to create a statewide solution to childhood illiteracy!

Minnesota Reading Corps has been recognized as an innovative solution with proven results for improving the literacy skills of children age 3 to grade 3.

During this session you will learn how this AmeriCorps*State program is making an impact and how you can replicate this strategy in your state.

Diplomas Now in Action: Getting Results for Students in Low Performing Schools in New Orleans
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: MCCNO 342
Speakers: Ava Jackson, Ryan Mattingly, DeShon Angel, Alfred Jones, Peggy Mendoza, Tara Madden, Sara Massey
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5484

Building upon last year’s session on leveraging the unique assets of national service to address the drop out crisis, Diplomas Now in Action will present an update from national experts on strategies to raise the graduation rate to 90% by 2020 and provide an in-depth local case study of an effective collaboration model at a high needs, low performing school.

The case study will follow the planning, implementation and impact of the Diplomas Now program at Walter L. Cohen High School in the Recovery School District, New Orleans, featuring representatives from the Diplomas Now partners and Cohen High School.

Lessons from New Orleans: Levering Higher Education Resources for Community Development
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: MCCNO 340
Speakers: Vincent Ilustre, Warren Puneky, Kelly Brotzman, Mary Beth Lima
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5279

This panel will bring together higher education institutions in the New Orleans area to provide a primer for community agencies interested in utilizing the resources universities have to offer.

Representatives from each of these schools will talk about how communities can engage universities at different levels to accomplish community work.

This panel will offer different strategies that community agencies could utilize to work with colleges and universities. Invited panelists include Delgado Community College Loyola University, Louisiana State University and Tulane University.

Pathways to Innovation: International Service
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Room: MCCNO 352
Speakers: Susan Stroud, Charles Phillips, Margaret Poole, Masha Katz, Jennifer Kim Field, Benjamin Olagboye
Sponsor: Target
Twitter Hashtag: #NCVS5562

In this session presenters will pitch innovative models using service to achieve results in countries other than the United States followed by discussion. Included are: Education American Jewish World Service, UN Foundation, Service for Peace, Meridian International Center, UN Development Programs in Cote d’Ivoire.