Conference Highlights

Keynote Speakers

Opening Session Keynote Speaker: Wednesday, May 7th, at 10 a.m.

david kirpDavid Kirp, Author, “The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics”

David Kirp is a professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. A former newspaper editor as well as an academic, his interests range widely across social policy. His latest book, The Sandbox Investment: The Preschool Movement and Kids-First Politics, emerges from his having spent several years crouching in pre-k classrooms across the country, as well as talking with experts in the field--everyone from a MacArthur “genius award” teacher and path-breaking neuroscience researchers to a Nobel Prize-winning economist and pioneering governors. The book has been widely acclaimed — a review in Teachers College Record likened it to Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America in its approach, and it was a San Francisco Chronicle 2007 “notable book.” It has won the 2007 Association of American Publishers Award for Excellence in the Education Category. Over the span of several decades David Kirp has written or edited fifteen books on such varied topics as public education, race and gender discrimination, affordable housing, AIDS and civil liberties. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School. Before coming to Berkeley, he taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was the founding director of the Harvard Center on Law and Education, a national law reform center that continues to promote equality of educational opportunity. From 1983 to 1985 he was an associate editor of the Sacramento Bee and later wrote a syndicated column for Copley News Service.

Celebration Dinner Keynote Speaker: Thursday, May 8th, at 6:30 p.m.

Rudy CrewRudy Crew, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Schools

Rudolph “Rudy” Crew is the Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest school system in the country. He started his career in the classroom as a teacher and eventually graduated to the chancellorship of the nation’s largest public school district, New York City. He also served as Director of Reform Initiatives at the Stupski Foundation before taking the helm of leadership in Miami. Throughout his career, he has dedicated his talents and energies to ensuring a quality education and effective start for children of all backgrounds. In his recent book, Only Connect, Dr. Crew lays out what each of us must demand from our government, our school systems, and our classrooms to create a new generation of Americans that are educated, able, and willing to function in the workplace, at home, and as citizens. Dr. Crew has also been a leader in Miami/Dade County’s SPARK Initiative (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids). Under SPARK, the community has focused on assuring that not only are children ready for schools but schools are ready for children. Under Dr. Crew’s leadership, Miami-Dade County Schools are now working to build real relationships with child care and other programs working with children prior to entry into kindergarten and first grade. They are also focusing on an alignment of curriculum and professional development from pre-k through grade 3. The goal is to reach all 230 elementary schools in the system by 2011. It is a ground-breaking initiative and would not have been possible without Dr. Crew’s leadership and active involvement.

Early Childhood Resource Room:  Pick up brochures, program information and resource materials from a variety of early childhood-related programs from North Carolina and around the country.

Merchandise Sale: Take advantage of special conference prices on resource materials and Smart Start merchandise such as t-shirts, sweat shirts, coffee mugs, etc.

Pre-Conference Sessions:

Your registration fee also includes an opportunity to attend some of our special pre-conference sessions to be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008. Detailed information on these sessions can be found on the workshops page.  Persons planning to attend the pre-conference will need to pre-register for the pre-conference sessions they want to attend in advance as space is limited. There is no additional cost to attend pre-conference sessions.  If you are interested in attending a pre-conference workshop, pre-registration begins January 4th. Space is not guaranteed and participation will be on a first-come/first-serve basis. You will be notified after you pre-register as to whether you will be able to attend the pre-conference session of your choice.

Credit Hours:

NC Division of Child Development:  Specified workshops have been approved for credit by the NC Division of Child Development. Check the conference website for information on which workshops have been approved for credit.

Certificate of Attendance:  A conference certificate of attendance will be provided upon request at the conference registration desk for those who need verification of attendance to secure credit from other organizations or entities.

Special Events

Your registration fee includes an invitation to the following events.

Evening Reception and Resource Marketplace (Wednesday, May 7th, from 5:00–8:00 p.m.):  Mingle with your peers from around the country, conference presenters and early childhood leaders; visit the resource marketplace and talk with our generous sponsors.

Celebration Dinner (Thursday, May 8th, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.): Join us for this annual celebration of Smart Start’s history and successes over the past year and hear from this year’s outstanding keynote speaker!

 

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