Educators from 13 States Gather at the College Board Midwestern Regional Forum in Chicago, Feb. 10–12

NEW YORK — On Feb. 10–12, the College Board Midwestern Regional Office will host a conference of approximately 450 secondary school and college educators, administrators and counselors from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The event will take place at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile hotel.

The theme of the conference, “Collaborate: A Blueprint for Student Success,” sets the tone for thought-provoking sessions specifically geared toward the Midwestern Region and its distinct issues. Participants will come together to discuss, among other topics, rigorous instruction and strategies to make assessment data transparent, accessible and actionable.

Scott Page, a popular teacher and speaker who studies how social, political and economic systems work, will deliver the keynote address. Page researches how diversity improves performance and decision making, when “diversity” means not what we look like on the outside, but rather what we look like within — the tools and abilities that make each of us unique. Page is the director of the Center for the Study of Complex Systems at the University of Michigan, where he serves as Leonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of Complex Systems, Economics and Political Science. He is also on the external faculty of the Santa Fe Institute. Page will give his address on Sunday, Feb. 10, starting at 1 p.m.

Other plenary sessions will include two panel discussions on topics relevant to educators in K–12 and higher education: “Building a Regional Education Partnership to Increase College Attainment and Success” (Monday, Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m.) and “Breaking Through: Communicating with Students in a Noisy World” (Tuesday, Feb. 12, 9:30 a.m.). In addition, exceptional teachers, institutions and initiatives will be honored with several national and regional awards throughout the conference. Awards to be given out include:

• 2013 Annual MRA Distinguished Service Award
• 2013 CollegeKeys Compact™ Innovation Awards
• Bob Costas Grant for the Teaching of Writing

Dozens of additional sessions will examine the most timely and relevant topics in education. For example:

Sunday, Feb. 10

• “The Role of Finances in Postsecondary Access and Success” (2–3:15 p.m.)
• “Career and Technical Education (CTE): What Is the College Board’s Role?” (3:30–4:45 p.m.)
• “Increasing Awareness, Access and Success for College Readiness” (3:30–4:45 p.m.)

Monday, Feb. 11 

• “Determined Inclusion: Setting the Bar High; Helping Every Student Reach It” (9–10:15 a.m.)

• “Ready/Set/Go: Increasing Access and Equity Through Technology” (10:30–11:45 a.m.)

• “Building a Regional Education Partnership to Increase College Attainment and Success” (1:30–2:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Feb. 12

• “Data-Driven Counseling Decisions” (8–9:15 a.m.)
• “Creating College-Ready Writers: Reaching Common Core State Standards Through Writing Workshops” (8–9:15 a.m.)
• “Finding Funding in All the Right Places” (8–9:15 a.m.)

All sessions are open to the media. Visit https://midwesternforum.collegeboard.org to learn more.  To arrange for a press pass or interviews, please contact the College Board Communications office at 212-713-8052 or [email protected].