Special Education Summer Conference Scheduled

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July 20, 2009

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – More than 315 educators of special needs students will learn ways to help all children excel in the 21st century classroom during a summer conference in Charleston.

“Special needs teachers are among the most dedicated educators working in classrooms today,” said state Superintendent Steve Paine. “They are hard-working individuals who have a passion for teaching and high expectations that every child can learn. Incorporating 21st century teaching techniques will help them close the achievement gap and challenge all children to achieve their potential.”

The five-day event from July 26-30 at Embassy Suites will feature national expert Ted McCain, an author, teacher, innovator and pioneer in technology education. McCain’s keynote address is scheduled for Monday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. He will focus on how students and learning are affected by the technological changes taking place in the world today and how schools must change.

West Virginia has taken note and is changing its educational system from preschool to high school by adding world-class rigor to core subjects and aligning state standards with national standards in the National Assessment for Education Progress (NAEP), ACT, and SAT, as well as with international standards in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS).

The result is 21st century teaching and learning -- Global21: Students deserve it. The world demands it. The plan helps public schools guide all children toward mastery of higher level core subjects and complex concepts, equipping them with the intellectual capital and finely honed skills needed to excel in a competitive digital world. 
 
“All children need strong literacy skills to succeed in school and life in the 21st century,” Paine said. “The capacity to not only read fluently but also to understand and apply knowledge gained through reading provides the foundation for communicating effectively, problem solving, critical thinking and productivity, all key components of 21st century learning.”

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699.

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