500 Attend Local Education Conference

Joy Hofmeister, right, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Dr. Robyn Miller, Hofmeister’s deputy, left, led a discussion on the Every Student Succeeds Act Wednesday at Sallisaw Middle School. The conference on professional development is scheduled for six cities, which saves money for both the participants and the State Department of Education, Hofmeister said. In the past attendees had to travel to the conferences, costing them money, and the state had to rent a place to hold the conference.

Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, visits with Sallisaw School Superintendent Scott Farmer at a state-sponsored conference Wednesday at the Sallisaw Middle School. Farmer said that, if the conference is held again in Sallisaw, he will consider opening up both the middle school and the high school because so many wished to attend.

About 500 teachers, administrators, and others involved in and interested in education attended the EngageOK on the Road Conference held Wednesday at Sallisaw Middle School.

Joy Hofmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was the keynote speaker at the conference, and, at noon, led a discussion on the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In an effort to develop a collaborative comprehensive state plan, the session focused on academic standards, assessments, accountability, school improvement and teacher quality as they relate to ESSA.

Hofmeister and her deputy, Dr. Robyn Miller, asked for feedback from those attending the noon meeting on how to improve education through ESSA, which replaces No Child Left Behind. Academic excellence, improving graduation rates and test scores, offering advanced course work, development of critical thinking, small class sizes, providing a safe environment, good teacher support and developing good relationships between the teachers, students and student families were just a few of the suggestions.

Sallisaw School Superintendent Scott Farmer said, “We were honored to host this conference.”

It was funded in part by Oakridge Builders he said.

Hofmeister took the conference on the road to save money since education spending has been cut by the state. Hofmeister said taking the conference on the road to Sallisaw and five other Oklahoma cities saved travel for teachers and reduced the state department‘s costs while bringing professional development to the 6,000 participants expected to attend the meetings.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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