With tight regulations and rising accountability expectations, schools need down to earth strategies for improving the success of struggling students.  “Strategic Moves for Student Success” is the theme of the third annual Region 12 “Symposium on the Square.”  The symposium will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wednesday, May 13 - Thursday, May 14 at the Waco Convention Center. (download flier)  

This special conference will provide practical information on creating strategies that work for all struggling students.  Conference topics include inclusion, Response to Intervention (RTI), literacy at the elementary and secondary levels, math strategies for struggling students, accountability, and assessment and intervention in a 3-tier model for students with social, behavioral, or emotional difficulties.  Break-out sessions will be presented by John Woodward of the University of Puget Sound; Joanne Allain of 3t Literacy Group; Dr. Donna Smith, Psych-Corp/Pearson Education and Terry Wyatt, Director of the Tri-County Co-op.

Dr. George M. Batsche will kick off the event with his address on May 13.  Batsche is professor and co-director of the Institute for School Reform at the University of South Florida.  He is the co-director of the Florida Statewide Problem-Solving/Response to Intervention Project for the Florida Department of Education.  In addition, Batsche co-directs the Student Support Services, Shared Services Network and Coordinated Student Health Projects for the Florida Department of Education.  Batsche’s experience includes work as a university professor and researcher, school psychologist, district-level administrator, principal, and consultant to school districts and state agencies regarding implementation of problem-solving/response to intervention.

All conference speakers have been recognized nationally for their expertise.  Sessions will appeal to superintendents, principals, teachers, curriculum directors, special education personnel, speech pathologists, related services providers, instructional facilitators or anyone who helps educate children.

Handouts will be available in digital format online and on CD at the conference for no additional charge. Printed notebooks containing the handouts are available for an additional $15 fee. The deadline for ordering printed notebooks containing the handouts is May 5, 2009.

CPE credits will be offered to all participants.  LPC credit and TSHA credit (pending approval) will be offered as well.

For more details, please call Jennifer Marshall-Higgins at (254) 297-1198.