From: Rick Dalton, President Foundation for Excellent Schools
Email: fes@panther.middlebury.edu
Tel: 802.462.3170 Fax: 802.462.3180
www.fesnet.org

Moving Our Schools Toward Excellence

Join us on November 1-2 at the 2002 FES National Conference, where we will explore innovative approaches to strengthening organizational capacity through team-building, visioning, planning, and performance evaluation. Concurrently, we will share successful practices that create and sustain school partnerships with colleges, communities, parents, social service agencies, and other schools.

Tom Van derArk, education director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will join other renowned speakers, including Commissioners of Education Theodore S. Sergi (CT) and Ray McNulty (VT). Hands-on workshops, networking and collaboration will help educators raise student performance in their schools. At the Saturday, November 2, afternoon reception, conference participants will have the opportunity to submit mini-grant proposals that provide direct support for networking with FES schools.

Conference sessions will incorporate strategies and practices for strengthening capacity and partnerships with the common objective of improving student performance. Sessions will include substantive opportunity for hands-on activity and idea sharing while also showcasing successful practices in FES schools. Session formats will include panel presentations and interactive workshops. A sample of Session Topics:

Harnessing the News Media, Raising Dollars for Programs, Lowering Your Dropout Rate, Making Parents True Educational Partners, Strengthening College Retention, Creating K-16 Clusters of Educational Excellence, Learning through Service, Promoting Excellence through Diversity.

Course Credit/Professional Development

Enhancing opportunities for professional development, the FES National Conference will provide course credit through the Union Institute.

Foundation for Excellent Schools -- Background

Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving student performance in low-income schools. FES believes that all students must be given opportunities and encouragement to take one more step (e.g., getting those at risk of not graduating to complete high school; getting those who plan to end their education with a diploma to pursue postsecondary education or training). Since FES was established in 1991, we have helped 170,000 students in 240 schools make measurable gains in such benchmarks as academic performance, high school graduation, college-going, as well as parental and community involvement.

Location and Directions

The 2002 FES National Conference will be held at The Sagamore Resort Hotel, located on its own 72-acre island on Lake George at Bolton Landing, New York. The Sagamore is 65 miles north of Albany International Airport. The cost for a single or double room is $109 per night plus a $6.00 per day service charge and 7% New York State tax.

Conference Registration

Participants can register on our web site (www.fesnet.org) or gather more information by calling FES at (802) 462-3170 or emailing us at info@fesnet.org.

Registration Fee:

• $350 -- Individual Participant
• $1,000 -- Team of three