The DATE Technical Assistance team is proud to host all DATE districts at its second annual Summer Institute, a professional development conference for all districts participating in the largest state-level strategic compensation program in the nation. These two days will provide valuable information for both Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 districts. We invite all Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 districts to send grant managers, central office staff, teachers, and principals to attend and share their experiences with the grant. This is your opportunity to network with other DATE districts, determine program changes that will benefit your district, share ideas for successful strategic compensation programs, and learn about legislative and State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) updates.
Like all DATE Technical Assistance events, there is no registration fee for the Summer Institute. Unlike last year, Technical Assistance is unable to provide any reimbursement for travel expenses. However, it is an allowable expense under Part II of the grant (contact Technical Assistance for more information).
Teachers, Administrators, Superintendents, and Grant Managers are the highlight of the Summer Institute. We are seeking district proposals to create breakout sessions along the following themes: developing leaders at the campus level, creating and developing innovative ideas, and successful communication strategies. We look forward to your submissions and hearing your DATE story. Please download the complete proposal form here.
This year, the DATE Technical Assistance team would like to honor the experiences of teachers participating in DATE. We are offering an opportunity for teachers to share their experiences with all DATE districts at our annual Summer Institute through a teacher speaker contest. Teachers chosen to speak will receive $500 for their contribution to the conference. Please download the complete teacher speaker form here.
The first day of the conference will include important legislative updates on DATE and other major education policy initiatives upon the (hopeful) conclusion of the legislative session. Additionally, TEA will present an update on STAAR. The afternoon schedule will allow participants to attend breakout sessions of their choice. This year, the DATE Technical Assistance team would like to honor the experiences of teachers participating in DATE by having a few teachers speak during the first day’s luncheon.
| 10:00-10:15 | Welcome |
| 10:15-11:00 | Leg Update |
| 11:00-11:45 | STAAR Update |
| 11:45-Noon | Transition to Lunch/Break |
| NOON-12:30 | Lunch |
| 12:30-1:00 | Teacher Speakers |
| 1:00-1:15 | Transition to Breakout Session |
| 1:15-2:00 | Breakout Session #1 |
| 2:00-2:15 | Transition |
| 2:15-3:00 | Breakout Session #2 |
| 3:00-3:15 | Transition |
| 3:15-4:00 | Breakout Session #3 |
| 4:00-4:15 | Transition |
| 4:15-5:00 | Breakout Session #4 |
The morning schedule will allow participants to attend breakout sessions of their choice. A panel, representing a variety of DATE districts, will host a discussion during lunch. The afternoon will conclude with guided working sessions.
| 8:30-9:15 | Breakout Session #1 |
| 9:30-10:15 | Breakout Session #2 |
| 10:30-11:15 | Breakout Session #3 |
| 11:15-11:30 | Transition to Lunch |
| 11:30-Noon | Lunch |
| Noon-1:00 | Panel Discussion |
| 1:00-1:15 | Transition |
| 1:15-3:00 | District Working Sessions |
A majority of the conference will be spent in breakout sessions led by Technical Assistance and district personnel. If you are interested in leading a breakout session, see our call for session proposals on the About the Institute page. The breakout sessions will broadly cover themes of: leadership (e.g. use of principals and teacher leaders), innovation (e.g. use of Part II funds, use of time, long-term sustainability of programs, non-monetary incentives), and communication (e.g. stakeholders, media buy-in, PTA, media relations).
| Theme | Session Title |
|---|---|
| Innovation/Leadership | Using DATE to Strategically Improve Campus Leadership and Student Achievement |
| Leadership | We're in it to Win it!: Working together to increase TAKS scores |
| Innovation/Leadership | Teachers Driving the DATE Process |
| Innovation | A DATE With Technology |
| Leadership | Strategic Compensation Policy Outlook |
| Innovation | TAP 101 |
| Leadership | 360 Degrees of Mentorship: How to Design, Implement, and Evaluate A Mentorship Program |
| Communication | What You're Hearing May Not Be What I'm Saying |
| Leadership/Innovation | Aligning D.A.T.E. with your District Direction System |
| Communication | Keeping In The Loop |
| Innovation/Leadership | Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo: What do you do with the left-over Part II funds? DATE Grant from the Campus Perspective |
| Leadership | DATE as an Instructional Leadership Tool |
| Communication | DATE Payout Workshop |
| Communication/Leadership | DATE 101 |
| Innovation | Sustainability in Strategic Compensation |
Early Bird Registrants
Wyndham Garden Hotel is offering 20 double rooms at a discounted rate of $99 per night for the nights of June 19 and June 20. Please contact Wyndham Garden Hotel at: 1-800-WYNDHAM and mention the 2011 DATE Summer Institute in order to reserve one of these discounted rooms.
Standard Registrants
This is the preferred hotel so once the room block fills, Wyndham may have additional rooms available at the state rate from June 19-June 21. The Wyndham offers free Wi-Fi, free airport shuttles and free parking.
Please view this document for a list of additional hotels in the area that may offer the state rate during the June 19-21 period. In order for the hotel to honor the state rate, please bring a copy of the hotel occupancy state tax exempt form with you to the hotel when you check in. *Please Note: Unfortunately, DATE Technical Assistance cannot provide travel reimbursement this year. However, travel is an allowable expense under Part II of the grant. Contact us for more information at txeducatorawards.org or (512) 232-2255.
We encourage your district to register more than one representative so that a district team is well represented. Registration is free and space is limited so be sure to register your district team today. Please visit the registration page, http://datesummerinstitute2011.eventbrite.com
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