The National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER) was founded to simultaneously and collaboratively improve the quality of teacher preparation and the quality of education in public schools. This organization celebrated its 10^th anniversary at a conference held in Bellevue, Washington, October 15-17, 2009. The BYU-Public School Partnership (which unites BYU with five local school districts) is one of 26 school-university partnerships that participate. The Conference, titled In Praise of Education: The New Three Rs: Reflection Responsibility, Renewal, attracted educators from all over the nation.  Brigham Young University had a noticeable presence at the conference.

Many McKay school faculty, staff, and one graduate student presented to large audiences on topics related to the theme. The three-day conference included panel sessions, keynote lectures, roundtable discussions, luncheons, and an awards presentation. The conference gave educators opportunities to collaborate and share their research with others in the field.  Presentations by 20 McKay School representatives covered a wide range of current educational topics.

A highlight of the conference was a tribute video created by BYU’s Paul Wangemann in honor of John Goodlad.  The video included clips of some of Goodlad’s memorable speeches and presentations and affirmed his great influence on the BYU-Public School Partnership.  Goodlad guided BYU and its five collaborating districts in forming the partnership; served as advisor, inspiration and friend through its 25-year history, and was an advocate for the development of CITES, currently the partnership’s facilitating arm.

The McKay School’s presence at the conference shows how influential its voice is in the national arena of education. In addition to attendance from the McKay School, Nebo and Alpine School Districts sent at least 30 representatives to the conference.  Professors from other colleges at BYU also gave presentations.  The presentations representing the McKay School included the following:

• Democratic Classrooms: Looking at First-year Teacher Practices, presented by Winn Egan, Lynette Erickson, Jeff Nokes, Amy Miner, and Jeff Pierce.

• Program Assessment and the AED: Preparing Stewards for Public Education, by Lynette Erickson and Nancy Wentworth.

• Nurturing Pedagogy for English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities by Mary Anne Prater

• A Continuing Struggle for a Center of Pedagogy: The Evolution of CITES at Brigham Young University by Steven Baugh, Richard Young, John Rosenberg, and Barry Graff

• Enhancing a Culture of Civility via Schools, Homes, and Communities by Lynette Christensen, Richard Young, and John Wilkinson

• Using the Positive Behavior Support Framework to Foster a Nurturing Pedagogy, lead by Richard Young and Lynette Christensen

• Incorporating Civility into Public Education: An Empirical Survey of School Professionals by Keely Swanson, Paul Calderella, and Richard Young

• School-based Mentoring: A Nurturing Approach to Improve the Educational Outcomes of Students at Risk by Paul Calderella and Shauna Valentine

• NNER and the Open Education Movement: Working Together to Assure Excellence and Equity for All by David Wiley, Steven Baugh, and Paul Wangemenn

• Enculturating Young: Literacy Skills that Encourage Democratic Behaviors by Tiffany Hall.

• The Power of the Agenda by Paul Wangemann and Steven Baugh

21 December 2009