For Release: September 17, 2004
‘Re-Inventing High Schools’ Theme of Three-Day Summit September 22-24
In an effort to discuss priorities in transforming high schools, the New Jersey Department of Education has scheduled a statewide summit, Re-inventing New Jersey’s High Schools, from September 22-24. The event, planned in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers, U.S. Department of Education and the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association will be held at the Embassy Suites in Piscataway, New Jersey.
The summit will provide teams of educators from 30 New Jersey high schools with the opportunity to participate in workshops with national experts and practitioners. Presenters will include Dr. William L. Librera, Commissioner of Education; Willard Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education; Raymond McNulty, senior fellow of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Phillip Schlechty, chief executive officer of the Center for Leadership in School Reform; Janice Ollarvia, Distinguished Principal for Secondary School Reform for the National Association of Secondary School Principals; Gene Bottoms, Southern Regional Education Board; Ioannis Miaoulis, president and director of the Boston Museum of Science; and Hans Meeder, deputy assistant secretary for vocational and adult education, U.S. Department of Education.
In addition to keynote presentations, multiple sessions have been reserved for school team meetings with trained facilitators to create a customized action plan for the "re-invention" of their high schools. Forums on promising practices, university and business perspectives, and student reactions to the 12th – grade option, a pilot New Jersey initiative designed to add flexibility and innovation to the senior year of high school, are also planned.
During the 2004-05 school year, three follow-up meetings will be held in each region to further develop the school "re-invention" plans.
A list of participating New Jersey high schools is attached.
Note: News media are invited to attend portions of the summit. Reporters interested in attending should call the Public Information Office, 609-292-1126.
Reporters may attend the keynote presentations in the Embassy Suites ballroom, as described below:
Wednesday, September 22, 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, September 22, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
"Lessons Learned About Schools that are Rigorous, Relevant and Relational"
Wednesday, September 22, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
"Re-engineering the Curriculum"
Thursday, September 23, 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
"From Bureaucracies to Learning Organizations: Beyond Professional Models"
Thursday, September 23, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"Successful Schools: What Makes Them Work"
