UIndy News

Teacher evaluation among hot topics at annual Indiana’s Future event

As sweeping new education reform legislation takes hold in Indiana schools, the state’s largest annual conference on the subject takes place Nov. 14 and 15 in Indianapolis.

School choice, teacher quality and other hotly debated issues are on the agenda for the seventh annual Indiana’s Future conference, organized by the University of Indianapolis Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning and presented this year by the Lilly Foundation. The event at the Indiana Convention Center will feature 81 sessions with nearly 140 presenters, including national and local education, policy and business leaders. 

Highlights include an opening panel discussion on Indiana’s reform efforts from 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, moderated by CELL Executive Director David Dresslar and featuring Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction; Nate Schnellenberger, president of the Indiana State Teachers Association; Wendy Robinson, superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools; and Mark Gerstle, vice president of community relations for Cummins Inc.

Several conference sessions will offer a state and national perspective on teacher evaluation systems, a topic of special interest to Indiana school corporations, which are required to adopt evaluation plans next year. A system known as TAP^TM, which is being piloted this year in 44 Indiana schools, is the subject of a Nov. 14 panel discussion and a Nov. 15 presentation. Charlotte Danielson, an internationally known expert on assessing teacher effectiveness, will deliver a keynote address at 12:45 p.m. Nov. 15, followed by a question and answer session.

Other sessions will cover charter schools, school vouchers, project-based learning, the use of technology and the impact of technological change on education, the role of the business community in driving education reform throughout Indiana, and the legal ramifications of Indiana’s new reform laws.

More information on conference topics and registration is available at (317) 788-3777 or http://cell.uindy.edu/indianasfuture2011.

About CELL
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis is leading the way in innovative education change in Indiana. Uniting educators, communities, businesses and policymakers, CELL leads a statewide network of support that connects academic achievement to economic development. CELL is committed to preparing all Hoosier students with the knowledge and skills necessary to attain postsecondary education and succeed in a 21st-century global economy. More information is available at cell.uindy.edu.