The 2010 National Charter Schools Convention
The 2010 National Charter Schools Conference was held in Chicago, Illinois between Monday, June 28 and Thursday, July 1, 2010. The event was quite successful with well over four thousand (4,000) attendees representing their schools from all over the country. The theme – Innovators in Education: Leading the Race to the Top. Representing Excell Academy at the convention were Mrs. Sabrina Williams, Executive Director/CEO, leading her team; Mrs. Cecilia Willis, Community Education Director; Mrs. Cassandra Payne, HR Director; Mrs. Candace Dunbar, Facilities and Transportation Director; Mr. Steven Williams, Math Teacher; Mr. Aaron Hjermstad, Physical Education Instructor; Mrs. Jackie Palmer, School Secretary and Receptionist; and Mr. Joko Bryant, Director of Technology.
Keynote speakers included Mr. Bill Gates, former CEO and President of Microsoft Corporation, and Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Mr. Nelson Smith, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The two speakers respectively delivered a powerful and note worthy address on Tuesday, June 29, the first day of deliberations.
Mr. Gates used the occasion to lay particular emphasis on the difference between well performing charters, mediocre charters, and low performing charters. Mr. Gates stressed that the leadership of the National Charter Schools Alliance must remain more proactive with leveling the right penalties on a poor performing charter by closing its doors, work with its leadership towards transformation for the better, or replace its leadership and allow it time to transform into a better performing organization. He expressed sincere gratitude to great performers for their contributions towards lifting the standards of the educational systems in America.
Mr. Nelson Smith took the stage following Mr. Gates’ deliberation and emphasized further the importance for schools to step up into the category of “Top Performer” in the Charter Schools Movement. He said, if schools do not perform well, they get closed down, and that diminishes the reputation of the charter schools movement. Mr. Smith made a particular note of a huge pool of opponents out there whose ultimate wish is to see the charter schools movement fail, but added that proponents must continue to fight for an educational model in which they truly believe, and the movement will continue to be strengthened and grow massively rather than die away.
Day 3 and 4 saw the deliverance of powerful speeches by other contributors with day 4, July 1, ending in a panel discussion about the pros, cons, obstacles, barriers, and current state of the charter schools movement. The session was followed by the climax of the convention, featuring a very touching moment – the transition of leadership with Mr. Nelson Smith stepping aside and moving on to a different organization, and would no longer serve as CEO and President of the Alliance. Mr. Smith was given a standing ovation and several salutes for the great job he did pioneering the alliance through all of its achievements to its present level. His replacement by Mr. Peter C. Groff was announced as well. Mr. Groff presented a welcome statement on stage to member charters.
