PETERBOROUGH, N.H., Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Improving student achievement begins with improving classroom instruction. Driven by that commitment, educators from across the country are invited to attend the Staff Development for Educators™ (SDE) 2015 national professional development conferences in Las Vegas from July 6–10.
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Held at the beautiful The Venetian™ | Palazzo resort on the Las Vegas Strip, educators will find an event to meet every need. This year's conference lineup features the introduction of a new event for second grade teachers, entitled I Teach 2nd!, as well as the return of perennial favorites I Teach K!, I Teach 1st!, National Conference on Differentiated Instruction, and National Conference on Singapore Math Strategies, and SDE's traditional pre-conference events, the Administrator Summit and Power Up!
This year brings to Las Vegas a bonus event for kindergarten and first grade teachers, entitled DI Encore. This unique event, on the last day of the conference, is exclusive to I Teach K! and I Teach 1st! attendees and focuses on best practices and differentiation topics appropriate for early learning.
"Educators have the most important job in the world, and they deserve the highest caliber professional development," explains SDE President Terra Tarango. "SDE's national events combine the world's leading educational experts with the most proven classroom strategies and bring them to educators in a format where they can access the practical, proven information that meets their unique needs."
The conferences offer high-powered content to challenge educators to think critically and creatively in an interactive and engaging setting. These rigorous, multi-day, multi-track events bring the nation's leading education experts together and include nearly 600 sessions.
Some of the biggest draws to the national events are the high-quality presenters that offer their guidance and expertise. Names like Kim Adsit, Donna Whyte, and Kathy Griffin are staples in early childhood education; Rick Wormeli has headlined the National Conference for Differentiated Instruction for years, and Yeap Ban Har is known for being at the forefront of the Singapore Math initiative. SDE's presenters are also comprised of best-selling authors, popular bloggers, influential school leaders, musicians, and more.
Because of the large breadth and depth of content offered at these national conferences, Tarango is confident that educators will find just the professional development—on just the topics they need—right at their fingertips.
"The presenters at this conferences are the most dedicated I've ever seen," says Tarango. "The energy, the commitment, and the enthusiasm are tangible as thousands of teachers gain proven, practical strategies to make a real difference in their classrooms. "
In addition to the daily sessions, each of the Las Vegas conferences is filled with additional opportunities for growth and collaboration. I Teach K!, I Teach 1st!, and I Teach 2nd! Teachers will enjoy an evening "Meet & Greet" event which brings together some of the expert presenters with the educators for a social hour of networking, raffles, and prizes. A Pinterest Party invites educators to learn about advanced Pinterest tips and ideas, while a Techie Throwdown features a lively debate about the use and utility of various classroom technologies. On Wednesday, July 8th, participants can join a morning Jazzercise class with presenter Rachelle Smith. And, educators can receive quick hits daily from presenter "Take-Away Tips."
Attendees at the National Conference on Differentiated Instruction will be treated to bonus sessions from Katherine McKnight, Ph.D. on "How to Twitter for PD" (July 8th), and from Dedra Stafford on "Blended Learning." (July 10th). Participants in the National Conference for Singapore Math Strategies will have the opportunity to attend a model drawing classroom demonstration with model drawing expert Anni Stipek. Both conferences also feature targeted round table discussions with experts such as Rick Wormeli, William DeMeo, Jim Grant, Michael Shackelford, and Jack Berckemeyer. "Take-Away" tips are peppered between sessions each day.
But, that's not all! Popular authors abound the national conferences, and participants can enjoy book signings with the likes of Todd Parr, Janiel Wagstaff, Nancy Belkov, Jack Hartmann, Debbie Silver, and Jack Berckemeyer. Each conference also offers participants exclusive discounts on book bundles.
"Educators who attend SDE's national events annually see them as booster shots of encouragement, affirmation, and inspiration. It's where they gather the information, strategies, and tools that propel them into the school year," describes Tarango. "Many also use them as a first step in a sustained professional development program. They experience the national event as a buffet, sampling content across a variety of areas. They leave informed and up-to-date, ready to partner with SDE's experts to bring select content back to their district, making meaningful, lasting improvement in their instruction."
To learn more about SDE's professional development seminars, conferences, on-site services and online learning, or to register for any of the national conferences, please call 1-800-462-1478 or visit www.SDE.com.