(Harrisburg, PA)—More than 400 elementary, middle level and secondary school principals, assistant principals, supervisors and other education leaders will convene in Pittsburgh for the 16th annual conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals (PA Principals Association) to be held October 19-21, 2008 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel.

“This conference is dedicated to assist principals, assistant principals and other educational leaders with the many initiatives such as AYP, IDEIA, Act 1, NCLB and others they ecounter on a daily basis,” explained Marshall J. Wagner, the 2008 conference chairperson and a retired principal from the Hollidaysburg Area School District.

Dr. Joseph S. Yarworth, assistant professor of education at Albright College, has been selected to receive the PA Principals Association’s prestigious Educational Excellence Award for 2008. The honor is given annually to a citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who has made significant contributions to the attainment of education excellence in the state’s elementary and secondary schools. Dr. Yarworth facilitated several PA Principals Association task forces. He also presented at several PA Principals Association Leadership Academies and various workshops on testing and job satisfaction for the association.The award will be presented to Dr. Yarworth during PA Principals Association’s annual banquet (6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008).

In addition to the more than 75 vendors exhibiting their wares for schools and classrooms, a multitude of professional and informational breakout sessions and keynote addresses will be presented to attendees during the three-day conference. Dr. Todd Whitaker, a best-selling author and professor at Indiana State University, will present, “What Great Principals Do Differently” during the First General Session from 1-2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19.

Bill Bond is the specialist for school safety at the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He will present “You Can’t Have Student Achievement Unless Your School is Safe, Supportive & Effective” at the Second General Session from 8:30-10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20.

Also presenting on Monday is Carl Glickman, a Scholar-in-Residence at the University of Georgia who has written 13 books on school leadership, educational renewal and the moral imperative of education. His presentation, “Leadership for Powerful and Purposeful Schools,” will be given at the Third General Session from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20.

As the final general session speaker on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Jay McTighe – known for his work with coordinating statewide efforts to develop instructional strategies, curriculum models and assessment procedures for improving the quality of student thinking – will present “Differentiated Instruction to Improve Student Achievement” at the Fourth General Session from 9:45-11:00 a.m. concluding the conference.

Other distinguished speakers and guests include Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, secretary of education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dr. Nancy M. Davenport, president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and Steve S. Pophal, president-elect of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

For further information or to schedule an interview or photo, please contact Sheri Thompson, PA Principals Association director of communications at (717) 732-4999 (office telephone), (717) 395-6814 (cell) or e-mail: sherit@paprincipals.org.

PA Principals Association’s Mission: To ensure a quality education for every child by comprehensively supporting the educational leaders of our schools.

PA Principals Association’s Vision: To be the best service organization of its kind in the United State.