(Dallas) – More than 6,000 school trustees, superintendents, and other education leaders will gatherSeptember 26-28 at the TASA/TASB Convention in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. The joint gathering of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) will focus on ways to meet the growing challenges facing public school districts. Participants will learn from extensive training opportunities and distinguished speakers, and receive the latest information on education issues, trends, and innovative programs. The annual convention is the largest training event of its kind for Texas school board members and chief administrators.

Republican and Democratic Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis will keynote Friday’s first general session at 4 p.m. (Davis is set to start at 4:30 p.m.; Abbott will start about 5:10 p.m.) They will share their perspectives on the current conditions of the Texas public education system and proposals for enhancing and improving the quality of our schools.

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Bertice Berry, a sociologist, author, lecturer, and educator, will talk about school transformation for the 21st-century classroom during the second general session. David Pogue, an American technology writer and television science presenter, will present the closing general session on Sunday at 9 a.m. His presentation will explore disruptive technology: what’s new, what’s coming, and how it will change everything.

Distinguished speakers this year include Hall Davidson, senior director of Global Learning Initiatives at Discovery Education, on Friday morning. He will explore going digital: what it means to school board members when technology changes the game. William Freund, chief economist emeritus of the New York Stock Exchange, will speak Friday afternoon on present and future financial markets. Texas Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams will share his insights on the state of eeducation Saturday afternoon.

Convention provides a variety of training opportunities: more than 200 breakout and in-depth sessions; Four Corners sessions, offering an interactive, nontraditional learning environment; and the Learning Lounge, where participants enjoy “bite-sized” training on a wide range of topics. Off-site activities  include field trips to the Dallas Museum of Art and Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
In the exhibit hall, more than 400 commercial vendors will showcase the latest products and services to assist public school districts, and students from local schools will provide hands-on demonstrations showcasing visual arts, culinary arts, and the latest in career and technical education.

In addition, school architecture will be featured in a display of award-winning educational facilities, innovative new construction, and renovation projects from across the state. Another popular exhibit will spotlight the artwork of talented public school students from kindergarten through high school. Their creations are products of the best in visual art programs in Texas and represent a broad range of media and abilities.

Other convention highlights include the announcement of the Superintendent of the Year at the first general session on Friday and Outstanding School Board at Saturday’s second general session. For specific information about public education and related events and services, check the association websites attasanet.org and tasb.org.