13^th Annual Northeast United States

Conference on Character Education

Held at the Sage College of Albany

“The Transforming Power of Character Education.”
Successful Strategies for Building Dynamic Classrooms, Nurturing School Climate
and Infusing Common Core Standards with Academic Excellence.

Conference Schedule:

7:15 - 7:55 AM                Registration -Pick up Conference Folder

8:00 – 9:05 AM            Breakout Session 1

9:15 - 10:20 AM           Breakout Session 2

10:30 – 11:00 AM     Introduction: Dr. John Walko, Director;
College Welcome: Dean Dr. Lori Quigley
Dr. Philip Fusco, Associate Director         
Honorable Kathy Jimino, County Executive
Honorable John McDonald III, Mayor of Cohoes
Keynote Introduction: Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York 2011 & Founding Executive Director of Project

11:00 AM - NOON            Keynote Presentation: Lee Hirsch
Director of the Award Winning Documentary “Bully”

12:00-12:05      Thank You: Mel Horowitz
                            Introduction: Dr. Philip Fusco
                            Mayor Jerry Jennings

12:05 – 12:15                  School Chorus

12:15 - 1:00 PM               Luncheon and Book/Author/Organization Tables

1:00 - 2:00 PM                 Student Leadership & Bully Prevention Workshop
                                      (Reservation Only)

1:10 - 2:15 PM             Breakout Session 3

2:25 - 3:30 PM             Breakout Session 4

3:30 - 4:00 PM              Sharing and Discussion Roundtables (Elementary School, Middle School, High School and Administrators) hosted by Mark Barth

Breakout Sessions

Session 1:

1: Nurturing School Climate: Sage ALLIES Safe Zone Program

Vincent Porfirio, Assistant Dean of Students, The Sage Colleges, Albany, NY

2: Common Core Standards, APPR, Student Learning Objectives and Assessment                      
Ellen Adams, Assistant Professor of Childhood Education, The Sage Colleges

Mary Yodis, Assistant Professor of Childhood Education, The Sage Colleges

3: Hi-5 for Bulldog Pride                                                                                                                  
Joseph Palmer, Principal, Laurie Alden, Library Media Specialist, and Maria Compson, 3^rd Grade Teacher at Harrison Ave Elementary, Glens Falls, NY

5: One World Club                                                                                                                
Jeanine M. Zaccara, Special Education Teacher, Edison Elementary, Port Chester Schools, Chester, NY

5: You’re My Hero: An Antidote to Bullying in Your Classroom!                                     

Dr. Andrew Rose, former Principal & Superintendent of the Norwood CSD in NJ and Vivian Rose, Teacher & Education Consultant for Imagine! Strategies for School Success

Session 2:

1: Blending ELA Academics and Common Core Standards with Character Based Service Learning   
Mary VanVliet, Maple Hill High School and member of Academy Leadership Board

2: Using Computer Based Technology to Implement DASA Standards                                          
Scott Crowder CEO & Dr. Bruce Crowder, Educational Vistas

3: Building a Character Based Supportive Learning Environment                                                 

Dr. Phillip Fusco, Assistant Director at The Academy for Character Education, Coordinator for the NYSSOC Program

Bonnie Misch, Coordinator of Academy Leadership Board and Assistant Coordinator for the NYSSOC Program

4: Social Networking to Teach Character                                                                           

Patrick Case, Assistant Principal at Canandaigua Middle School, Canandaigua, NY

4: Murder By Proxy: How America Went Postal                                                                  
Mike Schlicht and Tom Witt, State Coordinators of the New York Healthy Workplace Advocates, Amherst, NY

6: A Student Led Initiative for Creating a Better School Environment                              

Aaron Harrell, Safe Schools & Healthy Students Community Liaison, and Student Leaders, Albany High School, Albany, NY

Session 3:

1: Building a Student Voice within a School District            

Debbie O’Mara, Central Square Central School District, PV Moore High School, Central Square, NY.

2: Enhancing Academics Through Character Based Programs                                          
Mike Eiffe, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Chittenango Central Schools
Diane Mauw,Jennifer Pointdexter,

3: School Partnership: Nurturing Parent Engagement                                                                    
Laura Bigaouette, Assistant Dean & Director of Changing Suburbs Institute, Manhattanville College, Purchase, NY

Maria Flores, Community School Coordinator, Edison Community School, Port Chester CSD, NY

4: Project Empower: A Bullying Prevention Foundation                                                                

Kaitlin Monte, Miss New York 2011 and Foundation Founder

5: The Ugly Duckling Goes to Your School                                                              

Joan Monk, A.A.U.W: NYS Board, International Affairs Chair & District Director; Member of Academy’s Leadership Board.

Session 4:

1: Getting Students, Staff, Parents and Communities Behind Your Character Education Program  

Patrick Case, Assistant Principal at Canandaigua Middle School, Canandaigua, NY

2: Nurturing Leadership, Discouraging Bullying                                                                             

Ralph Singh, Wisdom Thinkers Network, Elbridge, NY

3: Strengthening the Ethical Learning Community                          
Jason Juszczak, Teacher, Michael Biondi, Principal, Susan Gager, School Counselor and Judith Jameson-Kellogg, Teacher at Allen Creek Elementary, Pittsford CSD

4: The Key to Bully Prevention: Leading with Character Based Initiatives for Peaceful School
Steve Birchak, College of St. Rose, Albany, NY, author and member of Academy Leadership Board

5: What to Do When a Teacher Bullies Another Teacher                                                               

Diane B. Sheehan, National Trainer, Consultant, Artist, Author, www.teachingforsanity.com, Portsmouth, RI