Molly Berger: Conversations Make the Conference

I’ve just returned from OSPI’s January Conference, Meeting Diploma Challenges, in Spokane where, despite challenging travel, thousands of teachers gathered. As I walked through the convention center inadvertently picking up on snipits of conversations, I couldn’t help note that, despite the piles of snow just outside the doors and the forecasts of more of the same, the talk was teaching and learning, not weather.

“I’m going to a session on ……..”

“I got some resources for ………"

“Did you make the session on ……? It’s repeated ….”

Throughout the center groups of people met. Teams from districts collaborated over lunch or between sessions.

“We need to decide…..”

“What do you think…?”

“How shall we….?”

Presenters and participants interacted,

“What do you think about…..?”

“We have a teacher who is struggling with….”

“What resources do you suggest….?”

Even in the hotel halls at night, I heard passionate discussions not on the Superbowl but on math standards, or health curriculum, or literacy methods.

As participants walked from session to session, lively greetings created a sense of camaraderie.

            “It’s been years. Where are you now?”

“I hear you passed your national boards!”

“Do you still team teach with…..”

“Where do I know you from? I remember it was at the training for….”

Top quality keynote speakers and presenters as well as relevant sessions, are essential to a good conference. However, the hallmark of a great conference is the conversations, the collaboration, and, ultimately, the action these inspire. The resulting professional development is well worth the sub plans we write, the personal arrangements we make, and the snowy roads we travel.

Molly Berger is a guest blogger and teacher in Yakima.

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