National Quality Education Conference: Systems Improvements, Innovation Lead to Higher Student Achievement

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American Society for Quality

Aug 12, 2014, 10:15 ET


Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) August 12, 2014 -- From test scores to degree completion, K-12 schools and universities are under more pressure than ever to achieve results for students. Sharing innovative ways to address these challenges is a key focus of the 22th National Quality Education Conference sponsored by ASQ. The conference will be held Nov. 16-17, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee, Wis.

This year’s conference theme is Innovation for System-wide Improvement and Beyond. The conference features the following keynote speakers:

  • Sunday, Nov. 16, 8:40 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. — Lee Jenkins, founder of LtoJ Consulting Group and author of multiple publications including “Permission to Forget: And Nine Other Root Causes of America’s Frustration with Education” Jenkins’ presentation, “Continuous Improvement: The Help and Hope for Education,” will provide real-life examples of continuous improvement at work in the classroom, the school, the district, the regional office and the local community.
  • Monday, Nov. 17, 8:40 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. — Tracy Hill, executive director of Family and Community Engagement, Cleveland Metropolitan School District and recognized as one of 16 Leaders to Learn by Education Week magazine in 2014. Hill will speak on “The Power of Human Connection: Engaging Parents as Partners,” and how successful school districts involve stakeholders in meaningful ways on their quality journeys. She will share the Cleveland District’s system-wide approach to engage its diversity of families as partners in children’s learning.

“When students and adults are overloaded with hoops and hype, hope declines and help is avoided,” said Jenkins. “Attending NQEC can inspire teachers and administrators with practical, continuous improvement leadership principles that help inspire students and parents to stay full of hope.”

Education experts at NQEC are featured in five major focus areas supporting the national education agenda for high standards, data-driven decisions and increased graduation rates. These areas include:

  • Systems thinking for system-wide improvement
  • Leveraging the Baldrige Criteria to improve learning and systems
  • Changing school culture to close the achievement/opportunity gap
  • Continuous improvement for advanced practitioners
  • Implementing common core standards and assessment

Program Highlights
Educators can take part in more than 35 in-depth sessions and five preconference half-day workshops. Session topics include:

  • The Road Untraveled (and Feared): Improving Grading Practices to Deepen Common Core Implementation and Transform Teaching, Joe Feldman, consultant; Crescendo Education Group; Oakland, Calif.

*School Turnaround That Works: How a Chronically Low-Performing Colorado School Turned Around and Then Outperformed the State, Angelica Benson, director of public relations; Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes; DelMar, Calif.

*Continuous Improvement at the High School: It Can Be Done, Casey Blochowiak, associate principal; Suzy Thomas, curriculum support specialist and Sara Koser, curriculum support specialist; Menomonee Falls High School; School District of Menomonee Falls; Menomonee Falls, Wis.

*What’s in it for Middle School Students? Spark’s Youth Mentoring Program Promotes Increased Engagement and Achievement, Kelly Dwyer, chief knowledge officer; Spark; Chicago.

  • Public Higher Education Quality Award Recipient's Performance on Cost, Quality, and Access: A Preliminary Report, Bill Bailey, assistant professor; Southern Polytechnic State University; Marietta, Ga.

NQEC is the nation’s leading conference for teachers, administrators and support personnel to learn about the use of quality tools and concepts that can be applied to improve U.S. schools. It is an outstanding opportunity for educators seeking awareness, commitment, refinement and measurable progress in applying continuous improvement approaches and processes.

About ASQ
ASQ is a global community of people dedicated to quality who share the ideas and tools that make our world work better. With millions of individual and organizational members of the community in 150 countries, ASQ has the reputation and reach to bring together the diverse quality champions who are transforming the world’s corporations, organizations and communities to meet tomorrow’s critical challenges. ASQ is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., with national service centers in China, India, Mexico and a regional service center in the United Arab Emirates. Learn more about ASQ’s members, mission, technologies and training at asq.org.

Christel Henke, American Society for Quality, +1 (414) 332-2933, [email protected]