88th Annual Convention Huge Success

Highlights to come...
April 24 & 25, 2009
at the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast • I-25 & Hampden
Budget for your leaders to attend this Annual Convention. 
Don’t miss this two-day event filled with great food, fabulous speakers, 
informative workshops, exhibitors, and the ultimate networking arena.

Convention Details

National PTA Representative 
Speaker & Workshop Presenter
Brenda Davis 

Brenda Davis has been a PTA member for over 30 years. Davis was elected in June 2007 to serve a two-year term as At-Large National Council of States Member and was elected to represent the National Council of States on the National PTA Board of Directors. Brenda chairs the Bylaws and Policy Committee and serves on the Convention Management Committee. She was previously a Hispanic Initiative Project Local Mentor

Awards Luncheon 
Keynote Speaker
Susan Payne 
Friday, April 24, 2009

You Can Make a Difference:
Studies show that 81% of the time a violent act occurs on school property, someone had prior information that could have prevented the situation but did not tell anyone.  This is most often due to fear of retaliation, intimidation, isolation, and exclusion. How can our young people be given effective tools for safely breaking this “Code of Silence,” raising awareness of the difference their voice can make and empowering them to do what is right in a way that keeps them safe?  Safe2Tell has received over 4,000 calls resulting in over 1,500 investigations or interventions involving dangerous situations or behaviors involving Colorado students. Susan Payne will discuss the vital role of prevention, intervention, education and awareness pertaining to safe school cultures and how we move forward with a solution that is strength-based, positive, and pro-active involving the various stakeholders in the safety of Colorado children.

Susan Payne is the Executive Director for the Safe2Tell prevention initiative. She serves in this role as a Special Agent with the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Homeland Security. 
     After the Columbine tragedy Susan was appointed to the Attorney General’s office to develop a statewide program to facilitate open lines of communication and collaboration between young people, parents, law enforcement, government agencies, and community groups in which students are encouraged to report any threat to their own safety or the safety of others.  The outcome results have proven the Safe2Tell prevention initiative is a simple and yet profound solution to breaking the Code of Silence and promoting school and community safety.
    Susan is a seventeen year veteran of the Colorado Springs Police Department.  Her experience includes team leader for Hostage Crises Negotiations, FBI fugitive task force and training at the FBI Academy. Susan has also conducted over 1,000 trainings, seminars, and presentations including the Colorado District Attorney’s Council, the Colorado Association of School Board Executives and Terrorism Liaison Officers. 
    In 2006 Susan’s expertise was requested at the President’s White House Conference on School Violence Prevention.  As a national expert on prevention, intervention, awareness, education, and training for school safety, Susan also consults extensively with Emergency Management planning teams throughout the U.S. while continuing the development and expansion of the Safe2Tell model. 

Dinner 
Keynote Speaker
Steve Spangler 
Friday, April 24, 2009

Exploding Soda & Flying Potatoes: How to Create Unforgettable Learning Experiences  

Amazing teachers turn ordinary moments into unforgettable learning experiences – the kind that kids talk about at the dinner table and remember for a lifetime.  The secret to being an “amazing teacher” is to learn to see the invisible possibilities in each of our students and to fill their lives with wonder. Steve Spangler combines his experience as a teacher and a business owner to create educational experiences that make learning fun. You’ll learn how to use a teacher’s secrets to stimulate your own creativity and create an experience that people remember. Guaranteed ooohs & ahhhs... but watch out for those flying potatoes.
    Steve S[angler, has been described as the guy who shoots potatoes, makes toilet paper fly and mixes up a perfect batch of slime. But he may be best known for teaching millions of people how to turn an ordinary bottle of soda into an erupting     

yser of fun. His now famous Mentos Geyser Experiment became an Internet sensation in September of 2005 and spawned more than a thousand related exploding soda experiments on videos sites like YouTube.com 
    On the education side, Spangler started his career speaking to students across Colorado with his Hands-on Science program. His travels took him to over 700 elementary schools throughout Colorado presenting over 4,000 student programs. Today, Steve focuses exclusively on training teachers in ways to make learning more engaging and fun. His hands-on science “boot camps” and summer institutes for teachers inspire and teach teachers how to prepare a new generation for an ever-changing work force. 
     The Denver-based science teacher and local television personality continues to make Ellen DeGeneres laugh with his clever science experiments. During his past appearances, Steve shocked Ellen with 50,000 volts of electricity, shot giant rings of smoke at audience members and filled a swimming pool with 2,500 boxes of cornstarch for the Cornstarch Water Walk experiment… and he’s been invited back for next season (go figure).
    For more information about Steve Spangler, visit his blog at www.SteveSpangler.com and his on-line business at www.SteveSpanglerScience.com

Breakfast Keynote 
Executive Director of CollegeInColorado
Dawn Taylor Owens 
Saturday, April 25, 2009: 

Topic: The importance of parental involvement in not only their child’s education, but in education in general. She will also address recent trends in higher education preparation, as well as legislative proposals we may see this year in education in Colorado .
     Dawn Taylor Owens began her tenure as executive director of College In Colorado in February of 2006. In this role she leads a statewide initiative, including outreach and Web site services, to help Colorado students pursue higher education opportunities. 
    Prior to her current position, Taylor Owens served as director of communications for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources from February of 2002. As primary liaison for the Department with the news media, she was called upon to write opinion editorials, press releases, newsletters, issue papers and articles for publication. This experience capitalized on her earlier role as speechwriter and senior staff member for Governor Bill Owens . Appointed in August of 1999, Taylor Owens researched, wrote and edited all of the Governor's speeches. She was also charged with various other writing assignments, and to write speeches for legislators, members of the Governor's Cabinet and staff.

Discover the Leader in You... attendees will discover their leadership style and turn ideas into action. Imagine leading your volunteers to immeasurable success. Learn how to embrace enthusiasm, fire-up volunteers and pave the way for exhilarating change. Be the Difference in your PTA. 

Carol S. Ritter is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant specializing in educational leadership, team building, marketing, presentation skills, and organizational collaboration.  
    She uses humor to keep her audience laughing and learning while passionately moving them toward an award-winning performance.
    Carol co-founded Advocates for Healthy Children, Inc. in 1994 and has shared her message with over 100,000 educational, church, business, and parent leaders.  
    Watch for Carol’s new book about intentional leadership entitled, "Are You a Success in Spite of Yourself?"
    A California teacher recently called Carol “a super dynamic speaker, we just love her enthusiasm.”
    If you want to be desirable, enviable, and simply irresistible to your clients, school team or volunteer base, it’s time for LIGHTS, CAROL, ACTION! 

Membership Luncheon 
Keynote Speaker
Carol Ritter 
Saturday, April 25, 2009
http://www.caroltalks.com