National External Diploma Program: Performance-Based Road to Success
Presenters: Melissa Dayton, Workforce Program Specialist, CASAS,
Pat Katz, NEDP Trainer and Advisor/Assessor, Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES,
Rosanne Harrison, NEDP Advisor/Assessor, Greater Southern Tier BOCES
Room: Albany

The National External Diploma Program (NEDP) allows adults to demonstrate their high school level abilities by applying them to authentic, performance-based simulations. NEDP graduates achieve success in post-secondary education, careers and other life goals. Hear from one NEDP graduate who has built a successful career as an adult educator. Participants will obtain an overview of the NEDP and learn how NEDP meets the needs of adult learners and benefits local programs.

Why Testing Matters
Presenter: Bradley Olufs, Director of Adult Basic Education, Wonderlic, Inc.
Room: Colonie

Assessment is the cornerstone of objective measurement and performance success. Program Administrators, Coordinators, Instructors, and Test Administrators, will learn the proper process of test selection and administration. Once the students are tested, understanding test results is critical to ensure adult learners receive appropriate services with targeted instruction to optimize the success of your education program. Test results can also be used to measure program effectiveness which is required to make necessary adjustments for continuous improvements.

Are Your Students Ready to Write? Going Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay Part 2
Presenters: Connie Schwein, Regional Representative for Steck-Vaughn Publishers,
Linda Correnti, Principal, Manhattan Access GED Program
Room: Troy

From formal essays to research reports to note-taking, postsecondary education requires many different types of writing skills. Some students make very smooth transitions from writing in the adult education classroom to writing in college, but many are puzzled and frustrated by their writing experiences for college classes. Learn more about college entrance exams and the diverse writing skills required by today’s world of work and education.

Coaching Leaders to Success Part 2
Presenter: Begonietta “Be” Jensen, Senior Professional Development Associate and Project Leader for Family and Community
Programs, Literacy Assistance Center
Room: Salon A

Coaching is a promising new tool for building capacity, developing staff and impacting engagement, productivity, and job satisfaction as well as organizational outcomes. This session will illustrate how leadership coaching has proven to be a successful strategy to strengthen participants’ managerial and leadership skills, to help them attain SMART goals and outcomes, improve program effectiveness, increase staff and student retention, and ultimately enhance their organizational culture.

Literacy Zones
Presenter: Robert Purga, Supervisor, Adult Education and Workforce Development with Literacy Zone Directors, funding
partners, and data system experts.
Room: Salon B & C

Literacy Zones (LZ) is a reform initiative developed by the New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department to close the achievement gap in urban and rural communities of concentrated poverty and limited literacy or English language proficiency. LZ’s provide a systemic approach to meeting the complex literacy needs of impoverished students and families. Learn about innovative strategies from the 18 Literacy Zones, providing pathways out of poverty and how this initiative is building capacity in neighborhoods, with community partners, businesses and at the state level. This workshop will highlight best practices in each of the Literacy Zones and NYSED’s efforts to leverage resources and build bridges from the state agencies to the services within the communities.

Legislation to Watch: Keeping Up With NYS Education Legislation Part 2
Presenter: Stacey L. Watson, Executive Director of the South Buffalo Education Center
Room: Salon F

With the busy schedules of educators, it is difficult to read, follow and support all of the education related legislation happening in Albany. This interactive workshop will train educators to recognize important bills, track their progress and understand how they affect our day to day operations. Participants will have a greater understanding of the proposed bills explored in recent legislative sessions, as well as learn easy ways to keep up with the notable laws.

Taking Multi-Level Instruction to the Next Level!!
Presenter: Tom Dare
Room: Schenectady

Through demonstration, you will experience multi-level instruction that: provides customized lessons for three different literacy levels of students, provides activities that begin with “like-ability” groups and evolve into “cross-ability” groups, provides a technique for allowing each student a multi-track learning experience by individual skills, and provides an articulated lesson sequence that allow teachers to accommodate students in the same class who test at different levels. Complimentary materials provided.

Fitness Walk
Presenter: Maria Chefalo, Director of Community Education, Gates -Chili Central School
Room: Hotel Lobby

Did you know there is a great Community Park with several walking trails behind the Marriott Hotel? Join me and other conference goers and check out the crossings of Colonie Park walking paths. After sitting all day a little physical exercise would do us all good. We will journey along a 1.25 mile path that travels around the area covering a natural trail, orchard, arboretum, meadow, ponds, playgrounds, a neighboring farm, bird watching and other recreational facilities. All are welcome! We will start together then walk at your own pace. Wear sneakers and dress comfortably! Rain or shine – dress for the weather. For more information about the park go to http://www.colonie.org/parks/crossings/index.htm