COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO.19

September 19, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:	Principals
FROM:	Linda M. Wallinger Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUBJECT:	Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP) 2006 Annual Principals Professional Development Conference November 8-10, 2006, The Homestead, Hot Springs, VA

The Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP), the Virginia Department of Education (DOE), and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) extend an invitation to all principals, assistant principals, and other professional educators within your school or school district to participate in the 2006 Annual Principals Professional Development Conference. The conference theme for this year is “Education: The Music of Life” and is scheduled for November 8-10, 2006, at The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia. This conference will be highlighted by presentations by Jonathan Kozol; Billy K. Cannaday, Jr.; Fred S. Morton, IV; and Quality Quinn.

Jonathan Kozol is a lifelong educator whose work has focused on identifying and reporting on the inequalities he has found in academic settings for children living in poverty. His insights and observations have been published in numerous books over his career, including such award winning efforts as Savage Inequalities; Children in America’s Schools, Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation, The Shame of the Nation, and Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America.

Billy K. Cannaday, Jr., was appointed to a four-year term as superintendent of public instruction by Governor Timothy M. Kaine on April 12, 2006. Dr. Cannaday also serves as secretary of the Board of Education. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Cannaday served as superintendent in two of the Commonwealth’s largest divisions.

Mr. Fred S. Morton, IV serves as the superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools, a school district of approximately 45,000 students in grades k-12. Mr. Morton will share experiences of addressing the challenges of the digital learning promise and precautions that elementary school principals must consider as they continue in their efforts to reach this digital promise of education for the children they serve.

Quality Quinn is an author, literacy consultant, and educational advisor, who serves school districts, state departments of education, foundations, educational publishers, and high-tech companies. Ms. Quinn has received numerous awards from various school districts throughout the United States as an outstanding educator for her work with beginning reading and assessment systems.

A variety of concurrent sessions will be offered to participants encompassing many issues educators face as they meet the demands of Title I Provisions, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Concurrent sessions will focus on the continued impact of NCLB, the incorporation of technology into the school, the need for differentiated instruction for special needs students, the legal issues impacting school leaders, as well as legal updates on IDEA, highly qualified teachers, and the regulations of principal licensure. Practitioners from across the Commonwealth and members of the Department of Education will conduct these sessions.

If you have questions about the conference or need additional information, please refer to www.vaesp.org, call VAESP at (804) 355-6791 or e-mail info@vaesp.org.

LMW/saj