The University of Tennessee at Martin’s Educator Preparation Program in the College of Education, Health and Behavioral Sciences will host its Empowering Educators Conference from 1-3:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, in the Boling University Center.
This year’s conference topic is “Changing Latitudes, Changing Attitudes: Facing the Ever-Changing Environment in Today’s K-12 Classrooms,” and will feature workshops from various local education professionals, centered on supporting students with disabilities and helping education students traverse the ever-changing educational world. This conference is specifically geared toward Education Residency 1 students, but all are invited and welcome to attend.
The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is Laney Rogers, the director of special education and early childhood for Union City Schools. Her topic is “Focus on Changing the World, Instead of Changing Your Roster.”
The conference will also feature multiple workshops, which include:
- Laura Plunk, a lecturer for UT Martin Educational Studies who specializes in special education, will be leading a workshop titled “F.A.M.I.L.Y.: Partnering Beyond the Classroom.”
- Darian Harris, a math teacher at Dyersburg High School, will lead a workshop focused on supporting students with disabilities, titled “Supporting Students with Disabilities.”
- Dr. Michael Morris, a principal at Jackson Academic Steam Academy, will lead a workshop that considers professional responsibilities and working with students, families and schools from an administrator perspective, titled “From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Top 10 Challenges in Modern Education.”
- Kari Harold, Metro Nashville Public Schools, will offer closing remarks in her keynote speech “Connecting the DOTS: Creating Access Through Connection.”
The UT Martin Educator Preparation Program aims to prepare and guide students to be effective and professional educators, capable of making a meaningful impact on students, families and communities.
For more information about the Educator Preparation Program or the Annual Empowering Educators Conference, contact Dr. Cheryl Stewart at cstewa72@utm.edu or 731-881-7201. She is a Department of Educational Studies faculty member and serves as conference chair and coordinator.
