Develop professionally, develop relationships at Seaside Conference

kent-hunsaker There is a tremendous amount of information and learning available to all of us at the 32nd Annual COSA Seaside Conference. In fact, outgoing Professional Development Director Bill Beck assures me this is the finest, most-focused event of his tenure.

We have outstanding keynote speakers this week. Debbie Silver, Bill Lindsley and Rick Stiggins are sure to make you think, make you smile and make you glad you attended the first three general sessions. And the ever popular Hungerford Law Firm will provide us with the latest legal news at the fourth general session. Add to that the more-than-70 breakout sessions that provide us with practical, best-practice lessons, and we all have a lot of professional development to choose from in just a day and a half.

I'm looking forward to the sessions, that's for sure. But even more, I'm looking forward to seeing all of you. I appreciate all I've learned at the COSA Conference over the years, but the best part of the conference for me is the opportunity to greet old friends and meet new ones. The opportunity at the Seaside Conference to develop relationships with colleagues from around Oregon is unmatched in any other venue, and it has been invaluable to me during my 40 years in Oregon education. I encourage you to take advantage of it.

What's the best part of the conference for you? I'd really like to know what you think as the event goes along. So, let's talk about it. Please use the comment form at the end of this blog. Then we can all have a conversation about the conference. About what we learned. What we enjoyed. What improvements we suggest.

After all, there is so much to choose from that we can't possibly attend all of it. Just look at the conference schedule:

The COSA Classic Golf Tournament (June 21, 7 a.m., Gearhart Golf Links).
The annual Special Education Pre-Conference (June 21, 8:00 a.m.-4 p.m.), aimed at supporting administrators in the unique challenges of working with students with disabilities.
The COSA Presidents’ Reception (June 21, 7-10:30 p.m.).
First General Session (June 22, 8 a.m.) speaker Dr. Debbie Silver, an award-winning educator and one of the most popular keynote speakers in the United States. Audiences everywhere respond to her poignant stories, hilarious characterizations and research-based theory.
Round I Breakout Sessions (June 22, 10:30-11:15 a.m.).
NWEA Ellen Stevens Award Luncheon (June 22, 11:15 a.m., McKeown’s Restaurant).
New Member Luncheon (June 22, 11:15 a.m., Harbor Pizza Parlor).
Second General Session (June 22, 12:45 p.m.) speaker Dr. Bill Lindsley, who helps education leaders build stronger organizational skills by enhancing listening skills that will improve morale, productivity and a sense of “team.”
Round II Breakout Sessions (June 22, 2:45-3:30 p.m.).
Round III Breakout Sessions (June 22, 3:35-4:30 p.m.).
Family Fun Night (June 22, 5-7 p.m.).
COSA Dessert Night (June 22, 7-9 p.m.).
Third General Session (June 23, 8:30 a.m.) speaker Dr. Rick Stiggins, who shares important information about understanding the value of assessment of learning and assessment for learning – a critical concept as the lines of accountability blur.
Round IV Breakout Sessions (June 23, (10:30-11:15 a.m.).
Fourth General Session (June 23, 11:30 a.m.) speakers the Hungerford Law Firm is arguably the most well known group of attorneys in Oregon within the educational arena. Participants will gain a sense of the major events in negotiations, contracts, special education cases, student rights and discipline and other key issues as time permits.

Please stop and say hello when you see me at the conference. And please do the same with other COSA staff, including Chuck Bennett, Craig Hawkins, Sue Roessler and, most especially, Bill Beck. He's done himself -- and COSA -- proud with his final conference. I am grateful for his service to COSA, and I know he'd be glad to hear from you. By the way, COSA staff will be wearing blue COSA polo shirts on Thursday, so we should be easy to spot!

Speaking of meeting colleagues, don't forget to stop by the membership booth. We have some fun souvenirs for you, and Board members from OASE, OACOA, OESPA and OASSA will be on hand at various times throughout the conference.

Again, I'd really like to know what you think as the event goes along. So please use this comment form. Let's talk!

Comments (1) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

COSA Conference is once again... OUTSTAN
written by Paula Praus-Williamson, June 23, 2006

Thank you for starting the day with the excellent young people singing inspirational and patriotic words.

I have already spent time in three very worthwhile breakouts and heard two outstanding keynote speakers.

The first keynoter Debbie Silver made me glad that I have worked on behalf of children for 35 years and she made me believe that I could do it for another 35 years.

There could be no better person to receive an award than Nancy Golden. Her ability to listen to others and maintain openness to creative ideas in serving children is a shining example.

As I have taken up the tango with my husband these past two years, you can imagine that I wanted to "hear the words" of Bill Lindsley.

By the way, I have really enjoyed the new COSA website and have been through many of the new areas the past couple of weeks.

I am excited about tomorrow's offerings here in Seaside.

Thank you to all of you who have worked so very hard on this conference.

Write comment

This page was last updated on Friday, June 23, 2006 .