On Tuesday, October 18, Vision 2015 held its fourth annual conference as part of the University of Delaware’s Knowledge-Based Partnership series. The conference, entitled “Delaware’s Race to Deliver: Getting it Done…and Done Right,” focused on the work being done to implement Vision 2015 recommendations and Delaware’s Race to the Top plan. Governor Jack Markell provided the keynote presentation, moderated by Education Sector’s Richard Lee Colvin, to candidly address the challenges and opportunities within the implementation efforts. Panelists from within the state and across the country dug deeply into particular topics, including teacher evaluation, school boards, Partnership Zone (turnaround) schools, and college and career readiness.
Conference attendees included education stakeholders: members of the Delaware General Assembly, employees of the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA), parent and community leaders, business leaders, and educators and school/district leaders. Conference attendees Mark Murphy, Executive Director of the Vision Network, Frederika Jenner, President of the DSEA, and Governor Markell contributed op-eds, published in the The News Journal in recognition of the Vision Conference. To read the op-eds, please click the following links: Murphy’s “The invisible force inside the classroom,” Jenner’s “Vitally important, public education deserves our best efforts,” and Governor Markell’s “State has shown commitment to schools.”
In addition to the in-depth, candid discussions, there were two exciting announcements. Vision 2015 released its Five Year Report, “Seizing the Moment,” reporting on the status of Delaware education in meeting the Vision 2015 Recommendations. An animated video short about Vision 2015 premiered during the conference’s opening remarks. Watch “IMAGINE the World Awaiting Today’s 1st Grader” by viewing our YouTube channel.
The visible collaboration at the conference demonstrates how Delaware’s education leaders are set apart from other states across the nation. Despite bumps along the road and the difficulty of reform, Delaware’s education leaders are dedicated to building world-class public schools for every child in the state.