2008 Institute

In 2008, the Michigan Association for Bilingual Education held its Annual Institute on Bi-literacy: The Power of Two.

Keynote Speakers

On May 20, Dr. Eugene E. Garcia, Vice President for Education Partner-ships at Arizona State University will present “Developing complex aca-demic literacy in early education”. He will demonstrate how early educa-tion interventions focused on Hispanic children and families can significantly increase academic achievement. Data and best practices addressed in the Na-tional Task Force on Early Education for Hispanics will be reviewed and placed into practice context that serve this population effectively with a focus on ELL children. Dr. Garcia is currently Chair of the National Task Force on Early Education for Hispanics funded by the Foundation for Child Develop-ment and the Mailman Family Foundation.

On May 21, Darcy J. Hutchins, Senior Program Facilitator for the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University will pre-sent a keynote session on “How to Develop, Implement and Sustain Com-prehensive Partnership Programs for Student Success”. She currently works with schools, districts, states, and organizations across the United States to use research-based approaches to organize and sustain excellent programs of family and community involvement that will increase student success in school. NNPS’s tools, guidelines, and action team approach may be used by all elemen-tary, middle, and high schools to increase involvement and improve student learning and development,” explains Dr. Joyce L. Epstein, Founder and Di-rector of NNPS.

On May 21, Dr. Herbert L. Martin, Jr. will present "The New West Cur-riculum: Empowerment for a Diverse Student Population” which has been the foundation upon which he has built the curriculum within the Inte-grated Studies Special Major at California State University, Monterey Bay. His specialty areas include Multicultural Education, World Mythologies and Women's Spiritual History. This presentation takes a retrospective look at the results of this approach as it has played out in the college classroom at CSUMB. Based on the outcomes realized from its success as a college curricu-lum model, recommendations will be made for how to bring this approach to public schooling at all levels. This idea will have implications for teacher train-ing, curriculum development, as well the choosing of teaching and library re-source materials.

Special Guests

Sergio Keck is currently the Director of Bilingual Education, Pre-Schools, In-dian Education and Childhood Center Principal for the Lansing School District. Mr. Keck opened a Chinese-immersion preschool program and also established a Spanish-immersion preschool program both of which will grow through the elementary grades. Mr. Keck is a United States Delegate to China through Michigan State University and Lansing School District for the Chinese Bridge for American Schools. In this capacity, he works to become acquainted with cultural knowledge and resources to help schools and districts develop programs to enhance understanding of the Chinese language and culture.

Dr. Sally Vaughn was the superintendent of Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA) in Howell, Michigan, where she was responsible for providing leadership and support services to five local school districts and two public school academies in Livingston County, serving over 30,000 students. Prior to her superintendency at LESA, she served as Associate Superintendent for Learning Services for Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) in Wayne, Michigan for eleven years. In that role, she provided leadership and support services to 34 local school districts and eight public schools authorized by Wayne RESA, serving nearly 500,000 students. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of School Administrators (MASA) and chair of the MAISA Early Childhood Committee. Dr. Vaughn received her B.A. from Western Michigan University and her M.A. and PhD. from the University of Michigan.