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Last Update: 09/21/2009

Presenter Information - Call For Session Proposals

Proposals are now being accepted for the 8th Annual Tennessee Educational LEADership Conference, sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Instructional Leadership. You are invited to participate in this conference by submitting a proposal that relates to the conference theme Learn. Grow. Lead. A focus of this year's conference will be both the new Tennessee Curriculum Standards and the Tennessee Instructional Leadership StandardsExit TDOE website. Presentations which promote, edify, or demonstrate implementation of the standards will be given highest priority in session selection. Dynamic presenters who provide inspirational, practical, and research-based sessions that support learning are highly valued.

Please read the following information carefully before submitting a proposal.

Deadlines:

Proposal submission has closed.  The deadline for session proposals was June 12, 2009.

Who Should Present:

  • K-12 School/District Administrators (including Principals and Instructional Supervisors)
  • Higher Education Professionals
  • Teacher Leaders
  • Curriculum Specialists
  • Instructional Coaches
  • Professional Development Trainers
  • Educational Consultants
  • Technology Coordinators
  • State Department Personnel
  • Vendors (Must purchase booth and have a co-presenter from a school/district.)

Conference Theme/Strands

The theme for the 2009 Conference is Learn. Grow. Lead.  while focusing on the new Tennessee Curriculum Standards and the Tennessee Instructional Leadership StandardsExit TDOE website.

Proposals should reflect this theme and relate to one or more of the following conference strands:

  • Leadership:  Strengthening leadership at the school and district levels to improve learning.
  • Assessment:  Using data purposefully to increase student achievement.
  • Instruction:  Applying researched-based strategies to improve student achievement.
  • Support Systems:  Improving learning through classroom management, community/parental involvement, school climate, etc.

Preparing and Submitting Proposals

  • All proposals must be relevant to the conference audience (school/district administrators and other educational leaders).
  • All proposals should reflect the conference theme and relate to one or more of the conference strands.
  • The session title should clearly describe exactly what the session is about.
  • Proposals focusing on the Tennessee Curriculum Standards and/or Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards should clearly indicate how the standards will be addressed in the session description.
  • The session description should be as concise and informative as possible.  Keep in mind that this description will be used in the conference program.  Phrases such as “participants will learn strategies to take back to their school” do not provide the conference committee or the conference participant with enough information.  What kind of strategies will be shared?  What exactly will the participants do? What exactly will the participants do and what can they expect to leave with?
  • Handouts are the responsibility of the presenter.  Access to a PowerPoint presentation on the web should be made available to participants.
  • Presentations that only promote a product, organization, or program should not be submitted.
  • Presentations by vendors require purchase of booth space and a co-presenter from a school/district who utilizes the vendor’s products.  Presentations should NOT be a sales pitch.
  • Your presentation at the conference should match the submitted program description.
  • Copy or save your submission form for your records.

Review and Notification

All proposals will be reviewed by the conference committee.  Questions reviewers will ask when evaluating proposals include:

  • How well does the proposal relate to the conference theme and strands?
  • How appropriate is the session topic for LEAD?
  • Does the proposal clearly describe the session?
  • Does the proposal description specify what participants might gain from the session?
  • Is there a meaningful connection evident to either the curriculum or leadership standards?
  • Will the content stimulate instructional leaders’ thinking for enhancing student achievement?

LEAD will notify the primary presenter by mid-August whether or not the proposal was accepted. It is the primary presenter’s responsibility to communicate with any secondary presenters.

If you have proposal questions or have not been notified regarding your proposal by September 2, 2009, please contact hawksg@charter.net.

Presenter Registration

Primary presenters will be automatically registered for the conference upon acceptance of their proposal.

All other presenters must register for the conference and pay the applicable registration fee.

It is recommended that secondary presenters registering for the conference do so once their proposal has been submitted.

Presenters whose proposals are not accepted may register for the conference using the fee applicable at the time their proposal was submitted.

Note: The LEAD Conference no longer issues refunds on conference fees; however, registration substitutions are allowed.

Vendor-Related Proposals

Vendors wishing to present must have an accompanying school or system to co-present the session. Sessions should NOT be a "sales pitch." Presentations should focus on the effectiveness and results in student learning and not the vendor’s product or service. Any vendor accepted to present at the conference must also purchase a booth in the exhibit hall.