2018 VSBA Annual Convention

Attendees will hear from Fairfax County Public Schools about their model for equity and school improvement, and explore the results from the initiative in its first three years. This project is based on tight focus, strategic and equitable deployment of resources, and removal of barriers to student achievement, all in a differentiated framework. By explaining the history of the project and its current state, attendees will learn how they can help improve equity across their divisions and improve results at the struggling schools in their district.

This session will provide an update from your Task Force on Schools in Challenging Environments. Learn about the successes and remaining opportunities from the task force’s 1.0 report; Provide input into the under-development 2.0 report; Learn how your governance team may seize the work of the task for to advance academic achievement for all.

“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.”  -Henry David Thoreau  

The truth is that public schools are good as or better than they have ever been— so why the national negativity surrounding them?  Why do groups of elected officials, from the state house to the White House, feel justified in criticizing public schools?  Most of these representatives are caring, patriotic, well-meaning individuals who strangely, when assembled, become negative about public schools.  What drives this misguided malady?  In this presentation Dr. Draper pushes aside the branches of evil and leads you on a journey to the roots of the problem.  It’s not low test scores or dwindling discipline or selfish unions or partisan politics or decaying families.  You’ll be surprised at the public myth that drives negativity about public schools.