ASHLAND — Once again Ashland is the two-day destination for educators from around the state who will spend today and Friday immersed in seminars at the Ashland Community and Technical College Teaching/Learning Conference.
The annual conference brings regionally and nationally recognized experts to Ashland, where they share teaching strategies and theories.
Educators at all levels, including teachers, administrators, education majors and others earn professional development credit in sessions devoted to elementary, middle school, high school, early childhood and general education topics.
Virtually every school district in the FIVCO area is sending contingents of teachers, said conference coordinator Kim Boggs. “They come from all over Kentucky and some from the surrounding states,” she said.
Boggs estimated between 500 and 600 would attend, about the same as last year.
Highlights of the conference will include presentations by Belle Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Dan Pelzer, author of an acclaimed series of books chronicling his escape from child abuse and experiences as a foster child.
Wheelan’s appearance at the conference is “a coup,” said Gary Bradford, dean of community, workforce and economic development at ACTC.
“It’s an affirmation of the view Belle Wheelan has of ACTC,” he said. Wheelan’s viewpoint is significant in light of ACTC’s recent brush with probation with SACS. The association’s Commission on Colleges is the regional accrediting body for Kentucky and 10 other states.
The commission questioned ACTC compliance with faculty standards and at one point Wheelan visited the campus to speak to the assembled faculty; the probation was lifted when the college provided extensive documentation to verify faculty credentials. “The fact that she’s coming back here is an affirmation that all is well with ACTC,” Bradford said.
Wheelan will speak at the conference on higher education past, present and future.
Dave Pelzer’s books have regularly made the New York Times’ best-seller list. “This guy is phenomenal and the message he brings is important to anyone interested in teaching or dealing with children or social services,” Bradford said.
Pelzer is the author of six books, the first of which, “A Child Called It,” tells the story of his escape from his severely abusive mother and odyssey through a series of foster homes. Pelzer went on to join the U.S. Air Force, serve in the first Persian Gulf war, and become a motivational speaker.
“I call Belle Wheelan and Dave Pelzer the stars of the conference, but I’m concerned that the term demeans the other presenters,” Bradford said. “They’re all people who are really outstanding in their fields.”
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
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