IT WAS A GREAT DAY!!!!!! The 7th Annual Parent Conference was held on Tuesday, October 25th and what a fantastic conference it was.
This year’s conference was a joint effort with Project GRAD Knoxville, Knox County Schools and the Knox County Council PTA. A committee named the “2011 Parent Conference Design Planning Team” worked diligently to design a conference for parents that would focus on the strength and power of families. The theme for this year’s conference was Mission ImPossible – Achieving Academic Excellence. A Parent Conference Design Planning Team was formed that met on a regular basis to plan an exciting conference for parents. The Planning Team included parent representatives from the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement District Advisory Council, the Project GRAD Knoxville Parent Board of Trustees and the Knox County Council PTA. The team designed a conference featuring a dynamic keynote speaker, Dr. Adolph Brown, III and included seventeen (17) workshop sessions that were offered during the morning and afternoon. The workshops were selected based on parent feedback and dealt with internet safety, making children mind, college readiness, interviewing skills and resume writing, time management and financial aid to name a few. Presenters for each of the workshops were skilled in their area of expertise and provided parents with a wealth of information to take away. Conference attendance increased this year by 66% over last year with parent/guardian participation increasing by 81%.
Dr. Adolph Brown was the keynote speaker and was fantastic in his delivery. As the conference began, he was in the ballroom unrecognized. Dr. Brown, also known as “Doc Attitude” impersonated a young man that one would come in contact with and overlook because of his personal appearance. He walked around the ballroom striking up conversations and observing reactions. During his presentation, he encouraged parents, teachers, administrators, etc. to see young people for what they can be and stop judging them. Dr. Brown is a renowned speaker and is recognized as a master teacher having taught in middle school, high school and higher education. Dr. Brown encouraged parents to help their children began their day with the right attitude. He shared that when his mother woke them up for school, she would tell them it was going to be a “great day.”
The conference concluded with door prize drawings and a boxed lunch.
Thanks to everyone who made this year’s conference successful.
Parent Conference photos below -
