By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
When it came to selecting a school district to host the 2015 Best Practices Conferences, Lake Orion High School won the cake.
The Lake Orion district was the first district to host the annual K-12 conference Tuesday and Wednesday, where more than 500 educators attended the two-day conference, including three national keynote speakers and over 80 breakout sessions.
The conference, specific to the 28 school districts in Oakland County, also invited outside districts to collaborate on effective practices happening in the local area.
‘It’s getting teachers and educators under one roof to share what is happening right down the street,? Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Heidi Mercer, who is leading the event’s organization team, said..
Conference topics addressed the ongoing challenge of meeting every type of student’s individual learning needs, from early childhood to senior year.
Topics included ‘Reading ‘Tween the Lines: Implementing Readers Workshop in Middle School?, ‘Using Math Talk in the Elementary Classroom?, ‘Round Holes and Square Pegs: Modifying Existing Biology Instruction to Increase Student Engagement?, and ‘Best Practices to Mentoring Online Learning? just to name a few.
Another main topic, Mercer said, focused on Standards Based Grading, which the Lake Orion district opted to implement for grades kindergarten through fifth starting next year.
Three national education gurus also spoke throughout the conference.
Michael Fullan, recognized as a worldwide authority on educational reform, spoke Tuesday to a full audience. Fullan is also known for advising policymakers and local leaders worldwide stressing education as a moral purpose for all children’s achievement.
Jenni Donahoo, a Research and Program Evaluation Consultant with the Greater Essex County district, also spoke the first day. Her recent book, ‘Collaborative Inquiry for Educators,? marks her experiences teaching elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
The final keynote speaker, Tom Schimmer, is an author, speaker and consultant from Penticton, British Columbia. He is recognized in both the U.S. and Canada as a leader and expert in learning assessment, sound grading practices, educational leadership and positive behavior interventions.
All in all, Mercer said the conference was highly successful.
‘While Lake Orion is certainly pleased to host it, it really was an endeavor that all 28 districts are taking on with Oakland schools. It just shows the collaboration that we have in the county, which we are really fortunate to have.?