6th Annual Northeast U.S. Conference on Character Education

When

Tuesday, March 15, 2005
8:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005
8:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Where

The Sage Colleges - Troy Campus
Bush Memorial Hall
45 Ferry Street
Troy, NY 12180

Who Should Attend

Educators
Students
Parents
Civic Leaders
Business Leader
Community Organization Leaders
Anyone who works with youth

Purpose

Rekindle Your Spirit! This is a conference to enhance good character, to turn our youth and communities away from violence and bullying toward caring relationships and academic excellence. This is a conference for the entire community, designed to stimulate those educators, families and organizations already actively participating in the character education movement and to provide critical help to those just starting, by providing inspiration, guidelines, successful examples and information about key resources.

Details

Tuesday includes:
Breakout sessions
Keynotes by Michael Pritchard and Cathryn Berger Kaye
Performance by Ruth Pelham

Exhibitors Hall
Complimentary breakfast and lunch

Special master class presentations by Phil Catania and others

Wednesday includes:
Breakout sessions

Keynotes by Michele Borba and Steven Birchak Performance: Stillwater Elementary Chorus

Exhibitors Hall
Complimentary breakfast and lunch

Special master class presentations by Gary Smit and others

Concurrent events for Youth, Business and Community Leaders and Parents:

Monday, March 14, 2005, from 9 am to 2:30 pm, 3rd Annual Youth Leadership Summit: Empowering Youth to Make a Difference in School and Community. Co-sponsor, Capital Region BOCES School Support Services: Featuring internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and youth advocate Michael Pritchard. For more information, contact Laura Yanulavich (518.464.3972).

Monday, March 14, 2005, evening, 2nd Annual Caring Community Leadership Forum and Reception. Featuring Michael Pritchard: "How Business and Civic Leaders Can Make a Difference in Their Organizations and Their Community."

Tuesday, March 15, 2005, evening, 1rst Annual Parents First Gathering. Featuring Dr. Steven Birchak. Parent organizations interested in participating and/or showcasing their programs at this event should contact Academy Associate Director Mel Horowitiz (518.449.8817/ horowm@sage.edu)

Michael Pritchard

Michael Pritchard is a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker priased by the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Time for his ability to use humor to inspire and educate his audiences on communication skills and emotional intelligence. Michael Pritchard is a big guy with a warm heart who, as one student described him, "truly walks as he talks." Drawing from his counseling background, Michael Pritchard uses humor to inspire, teach communication skills, anger management, diversity, conflict resolution, and overcoming burnout and stress

Michele Borba

Michele Borba, Ed.D., is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and workshop presenter to half a million persons, guest commentator on national TV and public radio, and member of the advisory board of Parenting Magazine. Dr. Borba will use her wit and knowledge to provide strategies for educators to overcome the challenges posed by violent behavior and bullying through character education. The author of 19 books on parenting, character education and self-esteem including "Building Moral Intelligence", "No More Misbehavin", "38 Difficult Behaviors and How to Stop Them", Michelle will have her new book, "Don't Give Me That Attitude" published in the spring of 2005.

Cathryn Berger Kaye

Cathryn Berger Kaye, M.A. is a classroom teacher, author and nationally acclaimed service learning workshop leader and speaker. In her most recent book "Service Learning: Prove Ways to Engage Students in Civic Responsibility, Academic Curriculum and Social Action", Cathryn instills the concept of civic responsibility and enriching educational opportunities for young people of all ages to help them become engaged in social action.

Steven Birchak

Steven Birchak, Ed.D., College of St. Rose, appeals to both your sense of humor and your spirit of professionalism. While having you laughing and at times crying, Steven explores the essential skills of the resilient personality. Dr. Birchak's most recent book is "How to Build A Child's Character By Tapping Into Your Own."

Bruce Weiner

Bruce Weiner, a member of the Academy staff, is a School Psychologist who helps get the character point across using Magic. Bruce presents a fun, entertaining talk, helping adults to understand the importance of teaching virtues and character to their children.

Diane Mosher

Diane Mosher is a middle school teacher in Berlin, NY. Dianne received the 2004 Teacher Award for Character Education. She is a specialist in Anti-Bullying Strategies and the use of Drama in Character Education.

Pete LeRoy

Dr. Pete LeRoy, a former public school physical education and health education teacher, serves as the director for the MSEd program at St. Bonaventure University. During his many years of teaching, he realized that he, indeed, taught and modeled the goals found in the character education movement, as a coach, a teacher, and as a professor. He has made presentations at state conferences on character education in Georgia, West Virginia, and New York. His presentations expand on what Joseph Campbell has said, "If you want to help this world, what you have to teach is how to live in it."

Ann Schwanda

Ann Schwanda is the Character Education Committee Chair and a parent leader in Clifton Park, New York. Recognized by Rotary as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Ann brings her "down to earth" and practical perspective to parenting and character education.

Ruth Pelham

Ruth Pelham, Executive Director of Music Mobile, Inc. Ruth and her music embody the spirit of community. Ruth brings the sound of music to your character education initiative. Ruth, based in upstate New York, has performed and interacted with audiences of all ages throughout the United States and abroad. Pete Seeger says, "Ruth Pelham is one of America's greatest song writers."

Gary Smit

Dr. Gary M. Smit is the recently retired Superintendent of the Lombard School District outside Chicago. Gary is a dynamic speaker who has made presentations on character education throughout the United States. Recalling his first Character Education conference Gary says, "The experience changed my life." Gary currently is a National presenter for "Character Counts."

Dana Cadman

Dana Cadman is a teacher at School 14 Elementary School in Troy. She is a specialist in mentoring and infusing character education into the academic curriculum. She uses strategies of the Responsive Classroom daily in her classes.

Phil Catania

Phil Catania, Principal, Mount Rainer School, Prince George County, Maryland. 2000 Model Peace School and 2001 National School of Character Award winner. Currently a member of the Academy staff, Phil serves as a national evaluator for the Character Education Partnership. He will provide an assessment focusing on how you can improve your classroom and school's social and academic environment.