Conference discusses education
The Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL) at the University of Indianapolis held its annual Indiana’s Future conference Nov. 14-15 to discuss the future of education reform in Indiana’s schools.
The event, which was organized by CELL and presented by the Lilly Foundation, was held at the Indiana Convention Center.
This year’s theme for the conference was “Navigating New Directions and New Demands,” in anticipation of the reform measures that will go into effect next year for Indiana’s schools.
According to Assistant Director of CELL and Director of the Conference Janet Boyle, various stakeholders in education attended the conference, including teachers, administrators, policy-makers, legislators and business leaders.
More than 800 attendees participated in more than 80 sessions at the conference.
Boyle said the overarching theme of the conference was educational reform.
Among the various topics discussed were teacher effectiveness and evaluation, the use of technology in classrooms, college and career readiness and preparing students for life in a global society.
The keynote speaker at the conference was Charlotte Danielson, an internationally renowned education expert who spoke on teacher effectiveness and evaluation systems.
Boyle said the annual Indiana’s Future conference is valuable because it exposes educational leaders to new forms of thinking and different perspectives.
“It’s real easy to stay home in your district and not be aware of the new ideas out there,” Boyle said. “A lot of times, [school districts] just need an outside set of eyes.”
Lauren Howard, director of communications for CELL, said the purpose of CELL is to improve education for Indiana’s students.
“We are really focused on transforming education for Hoosier students,” Howard said. “In doing that, we focus on the strategies, solutions and innovative techniques, so that we can improve the educational opportunities for Indiana’s students.”
Boyle said the key to the transformational efforts promoted by CELL is community support.
“The school can’t do it all by itself. It’s all about that old saying, ‘It takes a village,’” Boyle said. “It really does.”
Howard said CELL takes an innovative approach toward community partnerships in education by collaborating with community business leaders.
“We tie education to economic development,” Howard said. “Our conference brings together the business community and educators. Ultimately, they both have the same goal.”
Howard said both educators and business leaders want students who are well-prepared for their lives and for the workforce.
While CELL focuses on Indiana’s K-12 students, both Boyle and Howard said the organization has important ties to the University of Indianapolis community.
According to Howard, various professors from the UIndy’s Department of Teacher Education attended this year’s conference.
“Our professors can bring new knowledge to our future teachers,” Howard said.
According to Howard, beyond its effect on teacher preparation, CELL reflects well on the university, because it extends the university’s “Education for Service” motto.
“While you may not see our influence directly every day, I truly believe that CELL is impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of students every day,” Howard said.
