Essential Questions for the 21st Century Conference

1. Who should be on the team from our school?

• Staff members who have a vision for teaching and learning in ways other than “the way we’ve always done it”
• Staff members who are ready to reframe content so that it becomes more meaningful for today’s students
• Staff members who are school leaders as defined by job title and/or school culture
• ONLY staff members who are committed to attending the conference from start to finish on both days
• The TCIS and/or another “tech-savvy” member of the staff (Nick Rampersad and Neil Stamm will be working with the TCIS group prior to the conference. Each TCIS or other staff member will have the responsibility to report on-line for his/her team.)

2. What time does the conference actually start?

On Friday, January 4th it will begin at 12:30 in the small concert hall at the Ferguson Center. A box lunch will be available for all conference participants beginning at 11:30. Please plan to come early enough to enjoy your lunch as no food may be taken into the concert hall.

Please advise your team that Friday’s schedule is from 12:30 – 5:30.

On Saturday, January 5 it will begin at 8:30. A continental breakfast will be served from 7:30 – 8:30. A luncheon is a part of Saturday’s schedule. The conference is scheduled to end at 3:30 on Saturday.

3. Is the conference focusing on 21st Century instructional strategies which teachers may return to their classes and use?

No- The goals of the conference are:

• To engage colleagues in considering the shape of education in the 21st Century
• To contribute to international thinking on future schooling
• To bring together academics, administrators, school leaders and school teams in a “working conference”
• To seek a commitment to continuing the work of the conference over the next 12 months

4. Will parking be a problem?

No, CNU students will not be back in school yet. Parking in the garage adjacent to CNU and at various places on the campus will be readily Available.

5. As a principal and/or supervisor who is bringing a team, do I have any responsibilities prior to the conference?

Yes, please direct your team to the conference website: http://sbo.nn.k12.va.us/21stCentury.

As a group, please connect to the “Links for Thinking”. Provide some time for your team to meet and to discuss/process some of the information provided in the Links. The conference committee is hoping that your team will come with a great deal of prior knowledge of our conference topic.

6. Who is on the conference committee?

Dr. Ashby Kilgore, Dr. Jeff Smith, Michael Evans, Paul Lubic, Jack Bowden, Kathleen Pietrasanta, Kipp Rogers, Betsie Clary, Patricia Barresi, Annette Walls, Mary Ann Hutchinson, Dr. Steve Edwards, Consultant

7. Suppose we have other questions that have not been answered here?

Contact any of the committee members listed above.