3rd Annual Mentor/Coach Symposium

CSTP and OSPI with support from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation present:

Strong Teachers, Strong Learners

Conversations that Count - Promoting Teacher and Student Learning

November 4-5, 2009
Pre-conference November 3

An Interactive Symposium for Mentors, Coaches, Principals and Program Administrators

"If we want to grow in our practice, we have two primary places to go: to the inner ground from which good teaching comes and to the community of fellow teachers from whom we can learn more about ourselves and our craft...The resources we need in order to grow as teachers are abundant within the community of colleagues. Good talk about good teaching is what we need-to enhance both our professional practice and the selfhood from which it comes."
-Parker Palmer in Courage to Teach

We invite all educators who help colleagues improve their professional practice to join us. Mentors, Coaches, Principals and Program Administrators will benefit from participating in this 3rd annual interactive symposium. Focused on improving student learning through teacher growth and development, this is an opportunity to make connections with people and ideas that will:

• Challenge your thinking
• Facilitate networking and collaboration
• Support problem solving around current challenges
• Help you plan for next steps in promoting teacher growth and development

Click here to view the agenda.

Location:

The symposium will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport in Seatac, Washington. Directions and lodging information can be found on the Registration page.

Pre-conference: November 3, 2009

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Join us on Tuesday for one of three full-day pre-conference sessions:

• Using Data as a Third Point by Bruce Wellman
• Leading Groups: Effective Strategies for Building Community by Laura Lipton - FULL
• An Introduction to Mentoring Matters by Barbara Lawson

Descriptions of these sessions can be found on the Pre-Conference page.

Symposium: November 4 and 5, 2009

8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day

Keynote Address: Lenses and Language: From Novice to Expert Practice
Featured speakers are Laura Lipton and Bruce Wellman, authors of Mentoring Matters: A Practical Guide to Learning-Focused Relationships. Learn descriptors and definitions of expert practice and five lenses through which mentors listen to their colleagues and apply developmentally appropriate strategies for producing growth.

Symposium Strands: Participants will select one strand to attend Wednesday afternoon and continue with on Thursday morning. See Strands page for descriptions of these strands.

"This one conference was the best that I have attended recently…The understandings I gleaned about what an effective coaching process looks like were indeed thought-provoking, and as the result of having attended the conference, I feel I have much better tools to be much more effective as I coach the coaches...It was such worthwhile use of time and professional development money!"
- A 2008 Symposium Attendee

Register early! Last year's symposium sold out well in advance.