2006 Foundation for Excellent Schools National Conference

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

PRINS. MEMO NO. 14

September 5, 2006

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE/SECONDARY

TO:

Principals

FROM:

Linda M. Wallinger

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

SUBJECT:

2006 Foundation for Excellent Schools National Conference

The Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) is pleased to issue an invitation to educators in K-12 schools, parents, community leaders, as well as business and higher education partners to attend its 2006 national conference. The conference will be at the Sagamore Hotel and Resort in Lake George, Bolton Landing, New York, on November 17-18, 2006. All sessions and activities are designed to build a framework that will help low-income, first-generation college students get to and through college.

FES is a nonprofit organization that helps underserved students take steps to prepare for, access, and succeed in college. FES programs are funded by more than 75 foundations and corporations. Mentoring, goal setting, pathways to college, and leadership through service are the primary avenue for enabling students to take One More Step.

The FES team in each school has responsibility for implementing FES practices and programs. Working with the FES team, staff members help the school build a sustaining capacity to implement programs and practices. FES fosters networking among educators at the local, regional, and national level. The FES community is strengthened by regional and national meetings, a website, a newsletter, and a shared philosophy and purpose. Because early college awareness is an essential strategy for strengthening student aspirations, college partnerships are a fundamental component of FES. These cooperative relationships support college visits, mentoring programs, and common academic endeavors by teachers and college professors.

Additional information about the Foundation for Excellent Schools and the 2006 national conference is located on the Internet at: http://www.fesnet.org/, or you may contact Rick Dalton, FES president, at 802-462-3170 or dalton@fesnet.org.

LMW/saj