"Education for ALL…America's Promise" Is '94 Conference Theme

School Administrator, Feb, 1994 by Robert P. Fox

Each generation must keep the promise of providing the best possible education for all. Education is, after all, the engine of a free and democratic society.

As school leaders, we are on the front line, the razor's edge. How well we educate ourselves, how well we stay up-to-date, will help determine whether our schools are truly successful in delivering top quality education to students in the classroom.

AASA's National Conference on Education, Feb. 11-14, in San Francisco, is the gathering point for school leaders who are committed to making America's schools even more effective. Our theme for this historic conference, "Education for All...America's Promise," reflects the very essence of our nation's system of education: We believe in education for all, not just the fortunate few.

This 126th annual conference goes right to the heart of some of the most prominent issues facing education: finance, outcome-based education, demands by religious groups to exert greater influence on public education, year-round education, the nongraded primary, testing and assessment, math and science education, defining world-class standards, multicultural education, sexual harassment, violence, and systemic change.

Headliners at this great conference will include Secretary of Education Richard Riley, poet and historian Maya Angelou, and cultural anothropologist Jennifer James. A spirited debate will pit Robert Simonds, president of Citizens for Excellence in Education, against Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

AASA's exhibition of school products and services is among the most extensive in the world. On top of that, our annual conference features a popular exhibition of school architecture.

In San Francisco, we also will recognize the outstanding talent that exists in the superintendency through our National Superintendent of the Year Program and present other coveted awards. This conference is the highlight of the year and a rallying point for education.

As AASA moves into a new era, you'll be able to witness the changing of the guard. You will be able to honor retiring Executive Director Richard Miller and meet Paul Houston, who will succeed him at the end of March.

I look forward to greeting you personally during the annual President's Reception the evening of Thursday, Feb. 10.

If you need more information about our 1994 AASA National Conference on Education or would like to register, call us at 703-875-0748.

We'll see you in San Francisco, Feb. 11-14!