This year, the 2012 Regional Education Summit will benefit significantly from not just one, but TWO keynote speakers on Saturday, January 28th from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Hopkinsville Community College. Bill Grace is the Founder for the Center of Ethical Leadership, a nonprofit organization. Grace and his organization are dedicated to promoting the common good through ethical leadership, civic responsibility and collaborative problem solving. Grace is known for his motivational speaking style and has inspired transformational leaders everywhere, to courageously pursue justice. Also Stu Silberman, Executive Director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, will be speaking at this year’s Summit. With Silberman’s extensive background in education, he’s sure to provide the audience with strategies of effective practice and high performance.

This year’s event boasts continued collaboration from Christian, Todd and Trigg counties to bring national, state and local presenters who will discuss ways we can further support our teachers, staff, parents and students as we strive for exemplary student achievement.

The theme of this year’s summit, organized by the Christian County Education Coalition (CCEC), is “Education Pays: Investing in Our Future.” This theme continues to highlight the renewed dedication to relevant rigorous curricula, high expectations for all, and highly qualified and engaging educators to ensure our students will be prepared to compete in the global economy. The goal of this collaborative summit is to enhance opportunities to increase levels of educational attainment across the region.

In addition to Grace and Silberman, 18 other speakers will provide a variety of breakout sessions throughout the program. Session topics include challenges and benefits of diversity in the classroom, college and career readiness (elementary and secondary), effective practices for high performance, exceptional in-school leadership, technology tools to transform learning, individual learning plans, leadership and school improvement, as well as education and the advancement of the common good.  The event offers sessions that best meet the needs and interests of participants.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged and a variety of methods is available for community members to sign up. To pre-register online, visit www.hopkinsvilleky.us/edsummit. Registration forms will be available at the Board of Education office in all three counties, all public schools in the three participating counties, the Lackey Municipal Building and the Christian County Chamber of Commerce in the coming weeks. Completed registration forms may be submitted at these same locations.

The summit is made possible at no cost to the public through the support of Hopkinsville Community College, Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Christian County Public Schools, Todd County Public Schools, Trigg County Public Schools, City of Hopkinsville, James E. Bruce Convention Center, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn and Comfort Inn.

For more information visit www.hopkinsvilleky.us/edusummit. Questions may be directed to edsummit@hopkinsvilleky.us or
(270) 890-0215.