Second Annual California Teachers Summit Draws Thousands of Teachers for Unique Day of Learning
For Immediate Release
08.02.2016
Related Media- View photos from the Redding-based Teachers Summit
- Record Searchlight article July 29, 2016
- KRCR-TV local coverage of the teachers summit
REDDING, Calif. - Thousands of California teachers came together on July 29 at 38 locations across the state for the second annual Better Together: California Teachers Summit, a one-of-a-kind day of learning led by teachers, for teachers.
Simpson University's School of Education served as one of the site hosts for the free summit, designed to build a powerful statewide network of peers and enable teachers to share strategies for implementing the new California Standards in their classrooms. About 250 educators gathered at Sequoia Middle School in Redding.
At California State University, Sacramento, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson emphasized the importance of connecting teachers and learning from one another. “This Summit is a great opportunity to draw on teachers’ expertise and lessons learned in classrooms across the state,” Torlakson said. “Together, we can ensure our students are well-prepared for 21st century careers and college.”
At each site, local teachers presented TED-style EdTalks highlighting their success stories, challenges, and innovative ideas to help kids learn. During Edcamp discussions, teachers selected topics such as the California Standards in English/Language Arts and Math, and the Next Generation Science Standards, and exchanged ideas with colleagues throughout their region.
In addition to national keynote speakers (including teacher and author Kelly Gallagher and actor Ernie Hudson) who addressed all locations via live video, the Redding-based event included the following ED Talk topics and speakers:
- “Problem-Based Learning (PBL)—Learning to Trust Students (While Teaching Them Lifelong Skills)” – Cathy Alderman and Steve Main, Anderson New Technology High School
- “Information, Access, and Equity” – Ryan Johnson, Enterprise Elementary School District
A unique partnership between the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU), the California State University (CSU), and New Teacher Center formed to host this free statewide day of learning.
“At the California Teachers Summit, teachers are the experts and the students,” said Kristen Soares, president of AICCU. “Teachers are lifelong learners, and AICCU is committed to supporting teacher growth and collaboration.”
All participants received a free resource guide, which includes new teacher-vetted resources and concrete tools that are already working in classrooms across the state. The resource guide will be expanded throughout the year to help teachers put what they learned at the Summit into practice.
“The California Teachers Summit empowers teachers to engage in their own learning by identifying the resources available to grow and develop their teaching practice,” said Loren Blanchard, executive vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs at CSU. “CSU is proud to support professional collaborations like this because we know that an investment in teachers is an investment in students.”
During the event, organizers announced that the Summit will be held annually in July in the years to come. There will also be online and offline events throughout the year to keep this growing network of teachers connected, starting with two Twitter chats in August.
“We look forward to keeping the momentum going and building a community that will last far beyond today’s Summit,” said Ellen Moir, founder and CEO of New Teacher Center. “In the years ahead, we are committed to expanding and strengthening this unprecedented network of California teachers.”
For more information, please visit cateacherssummit.com, and follow #CATeachersSummit on Facebook and Twitter.
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About AICCU
The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities represents 75 private nonprofit colleges and universities in California who collectively enroll 320,000 students. The core mission of AICCU institutions is to improve lives through higher education. AICCU institutions are committed to the public good and are incredibly diverse – ranging from large to small traditional liberal arts institutions, including nationally ranked research universities; colleges offering faith-based, performing and visual arts, and “non-traditional” programs of study; as well as professional schools that specialize in business, law, medicine, and more. Accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is required for membership, as is fulfilling a public purpose through nonprofit status. In addition to providing creative and intellectual higher education resources to assure California’s future economic vitality, AICCU institutions are major contributors to the economies of the regions they serve – as large employers and consumers of local goods and services.
About CSU
The California State University is the largest comprehensive university in the world, serving 460,000 students at 23 campuses. For more than 100 years, the university has been the vortex of teacher training, conferring the largest number of education degrees and multi-subject credentials to California’s teachers. The CSU is known as the “people’s university,” serving the most academically, ethnically and economically diverse students in the nation. The university is known for providing quality degree programs and preparing job-ready graduates for success. With 1 in 10 employees in California, and 1 in 20 Americans who hold a university degree in the United States as a CSU alumnus, the university has the largest alumni base of any public university in the country with 3 million living alumni.
About NTC
New Teacher Center is a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving student learning by guiding a new generation of educators. Founded by teachers in 1998, NTC works in conjunction with school districts, state policy makers and educators across the country to increase the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders at all levels. These programs are built upon research-based principles for teacher onboarding, mentoring and ongoing coaching, and proven to accelerate teacher effectiveness, reduce teacher churn and improve student achievement. NTC has made it their mission to overcome challenges students and teachers face by providing all educators with the support and resources necessary to succeed from their first day to their last. NTC now supports over 8,500 mentors or coaches and 31,600 teachers, and is improving the learning of over 2.2 million students across the country.
Simpson University, established in 1921, is a Christian university offering undergraduate, graduate, and teaching credential programs. The university celebrated its 25th year in Redding and the completion of a Science and Nursing Center in 2014. Academic programs include ASPIRE, a degree-completion program geared toward working adults with both on-campus and online course offerings, including degrees in psychology and organizational leadership. For information about the university, or to arrange a campus visit, call 1-888-9-SIMPSON or visit simpsonu.edu.
Contact: SU Public Relations
mediarelations@simpsonu.edu
(530) 226-4737
