More than 1,200 Attend Collaborative Learning Conferences at Walkertown High

Last week, more than 1,200 teachers, teacher assistants, principals, psychologists, parent-involvement  coordinators and others who work for the school system participated in one of the day-long Collaborative Learning Conferences held on Aug. 12 and 13 at Walkertown High School.

One purpose of the Collaborative Learning Conferences– the first held by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools – was to explore the power of learning and working together to improve and to reach the school system’s goals. The topics that were explored were tied to the district goals and priorities. 

Pedro Noguera, a professor in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University, was the keynote speaker for Aug. 12. On Aug. 13, James Ford, a history teacher in Charlotte who was named the 2014 Burroughs Welcome Fund N.C. Teacher of the Year, talked about culture and diversity.

The school system’s three major goals are:

By 2020, 90 percent of third-grade students will read on or above grade level.

By 2018, the graduation rate will be 90 percent.

By 2018, the achievement gap between subgroups will have closed by 10 percent while the performance of all subgroups will have improved.