Indiana State University Newsroom

Teachers will have opportunity for professional development and growth, networking and learning new ideas and best practices during Sycamore Educators Day at Indiana State University on Nov. 7.

At least 200 K-12 teachers and school administrators in Indiana are expected to participate in the professional development opportunities provided at University Hall. This marks the 19th year for the event, will coincide with the Bayh College of Education's 150th celebration of the founding of Indiana State Normal School in 1865.

"Keeping with our theme of ‘Leaving a Legacy,' we want to help Indiana teachers find ways to bring about the lasting legacies they will leave on their students and schools," said Denise Collins, associate dean in the Bayh College.

Open to all educators who want to participate, Sycamore Educators Day will include a keynote address from Stacey Bess, a nationally known educator whose memoir Nobody Don't Love Nobody inspired the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "Beyond the Blackboard." Bess also is a recipient of the National Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service and a graduate of the University of Utah with a degree in elementary education.

The afternoon session features the authors of the bestselling book, School Culture Rewired, Todd Whitaker and Steve Gruenert, professors in Indiana State's department of educational leadership.

Conference breakout sessions will help teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school personnel gain new skills, new knowledge, or new understanding that they can share with colleagues and use in their professional work.

"After Sycamore Educators Day, teachers should expect to take away ideas that they can implement in their classrooms on Monday morning," Collins said. "It is a day for teachers to find new ways of looking at issues in their schools and classrooms and new ideas to re-energize their work."
Registration and more information are available at http://indstate.edu/education/SED.

Contact: Denise Collins, associate dean, Bayh College of Education, Indiana State University, denise.collins@indstate.edu

Writer: Betsy Simon, media relations assistant director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-7972 or betsy.simon@indstate.edu