Educators Gather at the College Board Middle States Regional Forum in Brooklyn, Feb. 13–15

NEW YORK — On Feb. 13 through 15, the College Board Middle States Regional Office will host a conference of approximately 500 secondary school and college educators, administrators, and counselors from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, The Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. The event will take place at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

The theme of the conference, “Collaborate 2013: A Blueprint for Student Success,” sets the tone for thought-provoking sessions specifically geared toward the Middle States 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. Dennis M. Walcott, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, will provide opening remarks for the conference. (Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m.)

Ken Kay, an advocate for preparing students to succeed in a more competitive global environment, will deliver the keynote address. Kay will define student success, share strategies for building students’ strengths, discuss educational models around the country and highlight success stories and exciting trends. Kay will address the pivotal role that the K-12 and Higher Education communities play and why it has become so important to work in collaboration to reinforce 21st century readiness, better our practices, align our programs, and embrace continuous improvement in our districts, schools and institutions. Kay is the co-author of The Leader’s Guide to 21st Century Education: 7 Steps for Schools and Districts. (Wednesday, Feb. 13, 1:15 p.m.)

Exceptional teachers, institutions and initiatives will be honored with several national and regional awards. (Thursday, Feb. 14, at noon; Friday, Feb. 15, at 8:00 a.m.)

Regional Awards

• 2013 Bernard P. Ireland Award
• 2013 William U. Harris Award of Excellence
• 2013 AP®Awards

National Awards

• Bob Costas Grant for the Teaching of Writing
• 2013 CollegeKeys Compact Awards
• SpringBoard® National Demonstration Awards

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

Wednesday, Feb. 13

• Implementing 21st Century Skills at the District Level: Superintendents Share their Strategies (2:15–3:30 p.m.)
• Building Better Teachers: Professional Development for Advanced Coursework in the STEM (3:45–5:00 p.m.)
• Regional forum address by College Board President David Coleman (5:15–6:00 p.m.)

Thursday, Feb. 14

• Federal Student Aid Update (10:30–11:45 a.m.)
• Building STEM Programs for Underrepresented Students (10:30–11:45 a.m.)
• The College Bound Initiative for New York City Public School Students (3:15–4:30 p.m.)
• Featured Luncheon Speaker, Beth Kobliner, Author of the New York Timesbestseller Get a Financial Life, and a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability (12:00 – 1:30 p.m.)

Friday, Feb. 15

• Rigorous Career and Technical Education Today (9:30–10:45 a.m.)
• Success and Challenges: Common Core Standards Implementation Across the Curriculum (9:30–10:45 a.m.)

The program ends with a closing plenary called Breaking Through: Communicating with Students in a Noisy World starting at 11 a.m. The panel will feature representatives from MTV, TRU, Bryn Mawr College, and a member of the College Board Advisory Panel on Student Opportunity.

Immediately following the conference, attendees are invited to take part in a College Resource Fair and Five Ways Ed Pays rally at the Skills Center High School for Science, Technology and the Creative Arts (49 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn). More than 200 students participating in the college application process are expected to attend. Dorita Gibson, Deputy Chancellor for Equity and Access at the New York City Department of Education, will be on hand to welcome students and guests.