Learning, Collaborating, Sharing and Networking; Debriefing the National Quality in Education Conference (NQEC)
This year’s National Quality in Education Conference held in Dallas, Texas saw a record number of attendees. Why? Where else can over 650 educators gather to collaborate, network and learn about quality and continuous improvement from the best in the country! I had the fortunate opportunity to participate as both an attendee and a presenter.
Participants enjoyed the keynote and breakout presentations that were delivered by energizing and motivating speakers. As a participant, I was most impressed with a new feature of this year’s conference; having opportunities to meet one-on-one with nationally respected experts like Susan Ledick, Margaret Byrnes, Sally Duncan, Jim Shipley, David Langford, John Jay Bonstingl, Ann Haggerty Raines and others.
As a presenter, I enjoyed sharing the stage with Superintendent Dr. Dave Markward and Continuous Improvement Facilitator, Becky Martin to affirm the Cedar Rapids Community School District continuous improvement journey. We were fortunate to have over 120 participants engage in our interactive session titled “A Multi-Level School District Program for Continuous Improvement .” (Download presentation). Included in the audience were 10 elementary principals from our District and 5 District continuous improvement trainers. We were honored to have in attendance our administrators and trainers and we our fortunate to benefit from their visionary leadership.
Hats-off to the American Society for Quality (ASQ), Suzanne Keeley and the rest of the staff responsible for effectively planning and delivering the 2006 NQEC. Begin planning for next year's conference in St. Louis and be sure to consider submitting a presentation proposal.
If you attended the conference we want to hear from you! Share you experience today.
Comments
Jay ? This conference keeps getting better and better. This is my 3rd year to attend the conference and I am simply amazed of how this conference grows. The sessions, keynotes, networking etc? are invaluable.
I truly enjoyed all of the sessions and our district was able to gain so much by brining 38 participants. It was also an honor to present, along with my colleagues, the journey our district has made with Baldrige.
We are looking forward to next year and hope that we are able to help the conference get even stronger!
Posted by: Tony McCardle | November 15, 2006 11:22 AM
Tony,
Thanks for your comments. What a great website you have --> http://www.cpsb.org/resources/qualitycorner/index.htm
I would encourage others to check out your site. By the way, would you mind posting a link to the Quality in Education blog on your site?
Jay
Posted by: Jay Marino | November 15, 2006 11:56 AM
What a thrill! Spending time with professional educators who speak the quality language! All attention focused on the vision of Quality in Education. I particularly enjoyed the networking-my conversations with enthusiastic individuals from other districts across the country. This collaboration and sharing is priceless. Thanks to ASQ for providing this opportunity.
Posted by: Becky Martin | November 15, 2006 12:19 PM
This was my first time to attend the ASQ conference. As a classroom teacher it was great to be able to visit with teachers from other schools around the country and learn what they were doing in their classrooms and schools on their journey of continuous improvement. I came back from the conference with new ideas that I would like to implement in my classroom to help myself and my students on our journey toward continuous improvement and quality work.
Posted by: Patty Kucera | December 1, 2006 01:31 PM