PEN honors LAEP President Peggy Funkhouser with Crossing the River Jordan Award

LAEP's Johnson, Armstrong Lead Workshops at PEN Conference Staff members from the Los Angeles Educational Partnership served as workshop leaders last week at the Public Education Network's 1999 Annual Conference which hosted the country's largest community-based school reform advocates. Actually three conferences in one, the three-day series November 14, 15, and 16 in Washington DC provided interactive sessions and dynamic keynote presentations with thought-provoking, nationally recognized experts. Each day's sessions were designed around a theme that provided attendees with easy ways to enter the dialogue. Dr. Judy Johnson, associate director of LAEP, participated in a panel discussion titled "Fixing a Broken Social Contract," that examined the importance of higher education reform and pre-K through 16 collaboration to ensure all students have opportunities for education beyond high school. Cathy Armstrong, LAEP assistant director of programs, also participated in a panel discussion examining the rigorous teaching standards established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Other speakers included Dr. Parker Palmer, a senior associate of the American Association for Higher Education and senior advisor to the Fetzer Institute. Palmer, in a presentation titled "Defining the Issues," featured the spiritual calling of teachers and the teaching profession. Other workshops included "Strategic Interventions," which was a hands-on exploration of the most effective and practical tools in closing the gap in teacher performance and student achievement. "Local Education Funds Innovations" addressed the specific challenges that face community-based organizations as they struggle to improve teacher quality. Program highlights included the presentation of PEN's Crossing the River Jordan Award to Peggy Funkhouser, president of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership. She was presented the award for her distinguished service and commitment to public education. Also receiving the award this year was Walter Annenberg, founder of the Annenberg Foundation, which focuses on school reform. In addition, Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, award-winning author and professor of teaching and teacher education at Stanford University, presented a lecture titled "The State of Teaching in the United States." PEN's mission is to create systems of public education that result in high achievement for every child. The Network works to educate the nation about the relationship between school quality and the quality of community and public life. Equal opportunity, access to quality public schools, and an informed citizenry are all critical components of a democratic society. The Network works with local education funds to ensure that the availability of high-quality public education is every child's right and not a privilege.