Thursday, July 31, 2008
Going Outside the Lines - Debbie Silver

Debbie Silver is truly a “teacher’s teacher!” She is an award-winning educator with 30 years experience as a classroom teacher, staff development instructor, and university professor. Her numerous recognitions include being named the 1990 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year and the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus from the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University. Along the way she has taught almost every grade level and most every kind of student.

Dr. Silver has been an invited author for several educational journals and has given keynotes at state, national, and international conferences in 49 states, throughout Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Debbie is the author of the bestselling book, Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers: Finding the Rhythm for Differentiated Learning. She is co-author of Because You Teach and Middle School Matters.

Going Outside the Lines
Debbie will address how to engage students from all backgrounds and experiences. Relevant, applicable teaching strategies for reaching previously disenfranchised learners are modeled. Researchers tell us that educators should no longer ask about students, “How smart are they?” but rather, “How are they smart?” Debbie discusses how to incorporate student’s competencies into curriculum planning and assessment. Participants are engaged in classroom activities designed to help students construct their own learning. Loads of illustrations & ideas! Dr. Silver demonstrates an approach that engages learners and helps them hone their critical thinking skills.

Friday, August 1, 2008
Creating and Sustaining Reading Improvement - Dave Montague, Principal, Washington School & Greg Fancher, Assistant Superintendent, Kennewick School District

Greg Fancher has been an employee of the Kennewick School District for 28 years. He has served the district as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, and as the Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education. Greg’s primary responsibility has been moving the Kennewick Elementary Schools to meet the 90% Reading Goal. He has worked with the elementary principals to develop their knowledge of reading instruction, the system of assessment, implementing the curriculum, and providing the very best instruction in each classroom. In 2006 the district met the 90% reading for the first time.

Dave Montague has been a principal in the Kennewick School District for 30 years, the last 25 at Washington Elementary School. During this time, Washington Elementary has been named a National Title I Distinguished School, a State Title I Distinguished School, received the SRA National Pride Award, and was chosen as the Governor’s Reading School of the Month. In 2005, Dave was the recipient of the state’s Distinguished Principal of the Year Award. In addition, Washington Elementary has met the district’s third grade 90% reading goal eight years in a row. Their state test scores consistently rank them among the highest performing schools in the state.

Creating and Sustaining Reading Improvement
The results of a decade of work to improve reading achievement in the Kennewick School District will be the focus of the presentation. A case study of the work at Washington Elementary School will be featured. The presentation is the summative report of the book, Annual Growth, Catch-up Growth. The presenters will share the results of student achievement and artifacts of their work.