CONFERENCE INFORMATION


General Information
What is the Governor's Academy for Urban Education?
Registration

Conference Schedules
Grades K-3
Grades 4-5
Grades 6-8
Administrators

Conference Resources
Participant Directory Search
PowerPoint Presentations
Reports from Previous Sessions
Post-Session Evaluation Form
 
Technology Resources
Using Your Computer at Muhlenberg
Wireless Access on Campus

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Muhlenberg Home Page
Directions
Campus Map
Campus Tour

Printable Version

The 2007 Governor’s Academy for Urban Education will be held at Muhlenberg College from Saturday June 23 through Thursday June 28, 2007. Approximately 250 educators from throughout the Commonwealth will attend sessions related to urban issues as well as academic standards in language arts and mathematics. The event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and co-sponsored by the State System of Higher Education and Muhlenberg College.

Registration is from noon – 1:30 p. m. on Saturday, June 23. The Academy begins with an orientation session at 1:45 p.m. The Academy concludes on Thursday at 1:00 p.m. following an awards presentation. Successful participants earn two graduate credits that may be applied to Act 48 certification requirements.

The program emphasizes professional development that provides (1) ways to successfully differentiate instruction for diverse learners; (2) coordination between language arts and mathematics faculty to create tools and examples for the integration of mathematics and language arts instruction; (3) concurrent language arts and mathematics sessions to increase training; and (4) opportunities to dialogue with colleagues about instructional and educational concepts.

Language arts standards to be addressed include learning to read independently and types of writing, reading critically in the content areas with a focus on Mathematics and Science reading, reading, analyzing and interpreting literature, and characteristics and functions of the English language. Mathematical standards include numbers, number systems, and number relationships, measurement and estimation, mathematical reasoning and connections, mathematical problem solving and communication, and algebra.

Additional sessions enable educators to address educational issues in an urban setting, implement technology tools in effective instruction in classrooms, incorporate effective assessment methodologies, and understand and interpret PSSA scoring rubrics. The academy’s schedule is posted at www.pa-academy.org/gua.

Susan Byrne, director of student teaching, serves as the conference coordinator for Muhlenberg College and is assisted by Dr. George Bonekemper, PDS Coordinator. Cathy Kim, literacy professor at Muhlenberg, and Mary Ann Siegle, a teacher at Trexler Middle School, conduct the language arts workshop for middle level teachers.

This is the sixth consecutive year that Muhlenberg College has hosted the Governor’s Academy for Urban Education. Approximately two hundred teachers and administrators participated last year including representatives from Allentown, Coatesville, Erie, Johnstown, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pottstown and Reading School Districts.