AdvancED Wyoming and its staff want to thank all who attended the Spring School Improvement Conference. It turned out to be one of the happiest, relaxing and informative conferences we have had in recent years. It always is a great treat to reconnect with old friends, bounce ideas off each other and network together. The Excellence in Education Awards banquet was great fun and a wonderful way to recognize our peers for their contributions to education in Wyoming.

Under the direction of Dr. Jim Rose, the Wyoming Department of Education and AdvancED Wyoming once again are partners in helping schools move forward with all of the various initiatives that are on educators’ plates. We are thrilled to once again have the WDE and its expertise working alongside us. It is a great time for education in Wyoming!

June 1 is the deadline to submit a session proposal form for the Fall School Improvement Conference, September 23-24. We are seeking breakout sessions that present useful, timely and practical information. Attendees want new ideas that can be implemented the very next day with little or no cost. Please be mindful of this as you submit your proposals.

We also are seeking content-specific presentations with new great ideas about methodology—especially Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Language, Fine and Performing Arts and Industrial and Home Arts.

If you have something to share with your peers, please consider giving a presentation. We would love to hear from you! Submit your session proposal form to Karan Wright at kwright@advanc-ed.org.                                              

One of the best opportunities that AdvancED Wyoming offers is for teachers and administrators to serve on External Review Teams throughout the state, nation and even the world! Serving on a team is great professional development and provides great insight into other school improvement practices. If you would like to serve on an External Review Team, please contact Brad Jacobson at bjacobson@advanc-ed.org.

If you would like to participate in our Exhibitors' Fair, please submit your proposal no later than June 1 to kwright@advanc-ed.org. Conference attendees like to purchase books and instructional aids on site. The fee for an Exhibitor’s Table is $650. Information tables are available for non-profit/grant funded organizations at a cost of $50. Please submit your proposal for an information table no later than June 1 to kwright@advanc-ed.org.

GEAR UP Wyoming is once again partnering with AdvancED Wyoming to offer Quantum Learning Level 1 during the Fall 2013 School Improvement Conference. Quantum Learning for Teachers is a 6-hour workshop that will be scheduled around the various general sessions of the Conference. This workshop will empower educators to create joyous, engaging and successful learning--turning classrooms into optimal learning environments. More information about the power of Quantum Learning is located here.

AdvancED has announced discussion and panel topics for the International Summit 2013. This year’s Summit, Defining Learner Success in the Digital Age, will be held June 23-25, in Washington, D.C. The three plenary sessions and corresponding dialogue breakouts will investigate:

Defining Learner Success in the Digital Age: Describe and define the skills, knowledge, attributes and dispositions needed for students to thrive in a digitally-connected global society.

Fostering Learner Success in the Digital Age: Explore the implementation of competency-based models for learning and badging systems.

Measuring Learner Success in the Digital Age: Examine whether you have successfully prepared learners in alternative/performance-based assessments and Common Core State Standards.

Each plenary session will be followed by Disruptive Dialogue breakout groups in which participants will have the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts through the use of technology, hands on activities and group interaction. Participants will explore the various components integral to understanding and influencing learner success in the digital age. Click here to register today.