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Learn new strategies for driving educational achievement
Come to the fifth Celebrating Educational Opportunities for Diverse Students conference this year in Portland and be inspired by three outstanding keynote speakers, choose from 24 workshops highlighting successful programs from around the Northwest, and network with peers who share the same challenges. The conference is for school board members, superintendents and district staff responsible for the education of English Language Learners, migrant students, Hispanic/Latino, African American and Native American students, homeless, incarcerated youth and all diverse student populations.
This conference is a collaborative effort of the school boards associations of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada, and we are pleased to have participation in developing the conference program from Oregon Commission on Children and Families, Portland State University, Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Migrant Education Service Center (WESD), Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, and the Portland Schools Foundation.
Friday afternoon, April 25
Registration opens at 3 p.m., followed by a welcome reception with student entertainment, and keynoter Kikanza Nuri Robins who addresses issues you've all experienced:
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Effectiveness in diversity-related situations
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"Culture-shifting" your organization
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Aligning your actions and work with your stated values
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Assessing the impact you have on the people you serve
Nuri Robins will give you plenty to think and talk about - and you'll get the opportunity to do just that with other participants.
 Kikanza Nuri Robins
For over 25 years, Kikanza Nuri Robins has facilitated groups wrestling with conflicts. She coaches managers and serves as a change agent for people and organizations seeking to transform themselves.
With her insights and observations, which she presents with clarity, humor and candor, Nuri Robins
has the ability to narrow the gap between who you say you are and what you actually do. Nuri Robins
is an ordained Presbyterian minister from Los Angeles who has a doctorate in education.
She helps audiences face difficult situations that challenge their values.
Saturday, April 26
Judge Tom Webb leads Saturday's General Session with "You can make a difference," his thought-provoking and - at times - humorous presentation about valuing the qualities of others. Interspersed throughout the day's full schedule of workshops are lunch, student entertainment, and then dinner on your own.
 Tom Webb
Tom Webb was born in Korea in 1952, orphaned, then adopted at age seven by a United States couple.
Webb holds a master's degree in clinical family therapy and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. since 1988, he has been an elected District Magistrate Judge in Haskell County, Kansas.
He is a past president of the National Judges Association and a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.
Sunday, April 27
On Sunday morning, select a final workshop session at 9 a.m. After that, you'll hear from senior policy adviser to Gov. Kulongoski, Danny Santos, who has served four Oregon governors and who works on such issues as education, labor, collective bargaining, and workforce.
 Danny Santos
In addition to working for Governor Ted Kulongoski, Santos served former governors John Kitzhaber, Barbara Roberts, and Neil Goldschmidt and has worked for Willamette University College of Law, Marion & Polk Legal Services, the Oregon Migrant Education Service Center, and the Jackson County Migrant Education Program.
He is a founding member of Scholarships for Oregon Latinos, the Oregon Community Foundation North Willamette Valley Leadership Council, Oregon After School for Kids (Oregon ASK) Steering Committee, and the Leadership Council for Oregon Mentors.
He is a graduate of Willamette College of Law and Southern Oregon University.
Breakout sessions will showcase successful efforts to improve education for diverse student groups.
With 24 workshop at this conference, you'll get plenty of ideas to fuel your creative fires and help you develop or refine programs in your schools. Sign up today. More
details including program and workshop descriptions is in the 2008
Conference Guide (574k  )
Who Should Attend
School board members, superintendents and district staff responsible for the education of English Language Learners, migrant students, Hispanic/Latino, African American and Native American students, homeless, and all diverse student populations.
Registration
Register by April 14, 2008 for only $215 per person. After
April 14, the fee goes up to $245. The registration fee includes all conference materials, dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday. Guests may attend the dinner on Friday and/or the lunch on Saturday for just the cost of the meal. Please check the appropriate box(es) on the registration form.
Special group rate registration: For every three full conference registrations from the same district or organization, the district or organization will receive one additional full conference registration for free. After April 14th, the early bird discount registration will no longer be available; however, the group rate will still apply.
Registration form (95k )
Register on-line (OSBA members only.)
Cancellation/No-Show Policy
For a full refund, cancellations must be received by 5 p.m. PST
April 14, 2008. A $100 fee will be charged for each cancellation after
April 14, 2008. For cancellations received after April 18, 2008, a $100 fee will be charged PLUS the cost of any requested additional meals. You may send another representative from your district or organization in your place, provided that you notify us prior to the conference.
No shows will be billed the entire registration fee.
Reserving Your Accommodations
All conference activities will take place at the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown (319 SW Pine St, Portland, OR 97204). This hotel is nine miles from the Portland International Airport and is located in downtown Portland. To find out more about the hotel, visit the
hotel Web
site.
Group rate for this conference is $149 for single or double occupancy (plus 12.5% tax). Reservations must be received by the hotel no later than April 3, 2008. Reservations at the group rate will only be available through April 3 unless the room block is sold out earlier. All reservations must be accompanied by a first night room deposit or guaranteed with a major credit card. Hotel cancellations must be made by 24 hours prior to arrival.
To make your hotel reservations, contact the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown at 1-800-EMBASSY (1-800-362-2779) and use the group code "DIV" to receive the conference rate. Or you may also
make your reservations
on-line. No code is needed as the group rate will automatically be assigned to your reservation.
Airport Shuttle
Shuttle service is available to the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown through Blue Star Shuttle. The shuttle costs $14 each way and runs every half hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To catch the shuttle, follow the signs outside the baggage claim area. Taxis are also available and cost approximately $25 each way.
Parking
Complimentary parking is available at the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown. To receive free parking, identify yourself as a conference attendee.
The Northwest Conference is a Collaborative Project of:
Oregon School Boards Association
Idaho School Boards Association
Nevada Association of School Boards
Washington State School Directors’ Association
For more information contact Steve Lamb
 , OSBA
Leadership Services Specialist
This is an excellent opportunity for education-related organizations, supporters of public education, and specialists who provide customized programs and products for diverse student populations to discuss strategies for improving education with policy-makers, administrators, and district-level educators and their staffs.
See our Conference Sponsorship
Opportunities (110k )
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