“This year’s conference once again provides an Act 45 opportunity for principals and definitely meets the primary purpose of professional development in an educational environment to increase the effectiveness of all who are engaged in the teaching-learning process. As I have come to know over my 11 years of being part of this organization, the conference also gives attendees the opportunity to network with other school administrators, which is also a very important element,” said Janet M. O’Rourke, 2010 conference chairperson.

A few of the awards to be given out at the conference include the National Distinguished Principal and the Assistant, Middle Level and High School Principals of the Year. These will be given during PA Principals Association’s 26^th annual banquet from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010.

In addition to the more than 75 vendors exhibiting their wares for schools and classrooms, a multitude of informational breakout sessions and keynote addresses will be presented to attendees by five nationally known speakers and educators from across the state and during the three-day conference. Dr. Victoria Bernhardt, executive director of the Education for the Future Initiative, will be presenting a keynote session on the topic of her book, Data, Data, Everywhere: Bringing All the Data Together for Continuous School Improvement, on Sunday, October 24 during the First General Session.

Also presenting on Sunday is Jon Gordon, an education consultant and author of international best-sellers including The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy and The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work, will be present, “Create a Culture of Greatness in Your School,” at the Second General Session.

Presenting on Monday, October 25 is Dr. Richard DuFour, the author and lead consultant for two of ASCD’s video series How to Build a Professional Learning Community and Through New Eyes: Examining the Culture of Your School. His keynote, “Once Upon A Time: Addressing the Pervasive Mythology of Education,” will be presented during the Third General Session.

Dr. Mel Riddle, the final keynote speaker on Monday, October 25, is the associate director for high school services for the National Association for Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He will present “No-Cost School Improvement: Leading Changes in School Culture” at the Fourth General Session.

Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidates, Attorney General Tom Corbett and Dan Onorato, have been invited to speak on Tuesday, Oct. 26 between 9:15-10:00 a.m. In addition, Barbara A. Chester, president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and Jana Frieler, president of National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), will also be in attendance.

On Tuesday, Oct. 26 at PA Principals Association’s Annual Business Meeting (8:15-9:15 a.m.), President Rebecca L. Stanfield, a middle school principal from the Troy Area School District, will ‘pass the gavel’ to President-Elect Margaret S. Foster, principal/chief academic officer of the Bear Creek Community Charter School in Wilkes Barre, Pa., making her the 2010-2011 PA Principals Association president.

For further information, or to schedule an interview or photo, please contact Sheri Thompson, PA Principals Association director of communications/public relations, at (717) 732-4999 (office), (717) 395-6814 (cell), or sherit@paprincipals.org. (Note: See enclosed schedule of events for times.)

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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 States.