West Sacramento, CA – More than 1,200 school leaders from California and across the nation will attend the inaugural School Wellness Conference on October 1-2 at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel, in Anaheim, CA. The conference will bring together school leaders and health experts to improve and enhance student health and wellness policies by discussing school nutrition and physical education as key components of students’ educational experience.

“The health and wellness of our students directly correlates with their educational achievement,” said Dr. Kathy Kinley, president of the California School Boards Association. “Schools must continue playing a role in improving student achievement and health by implementing policies for proper nutrition and physical education in our schools.”

The California School Boards Association, along with the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health and a host of other partners are presenting the inaugural conference. Since 1999, the conference partners have worked together to educate and train school district leaders and practitioners on school and student wellness issues.

“California’s future depends on the young people in our schools today. Everyone in our state needs to be concerned about student wellness,” said Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Instruction for the Department of Education. “We have called upon California school districts and county offices of education to improve student health by adopting and implementing local school wellness policies. By working together we are creating a culture of wellness in our schools. I am pleased to say that we have seen some terrifically creative and positive models to share as a result.”

Conference sessions will focus on key student health and wellness issues including: best practices and resources; statewide success stories and model program workshops; improved access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities; sample district policies that promote health on school campuses; and strategies to help schools succeed in implementing and evaluating their local school wellness policies. There will be a total of 120 sessions offered during the two day conference.

“Healthy school environments are a cornerstone of our efforts to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among California’s children,” said Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health. “The school wellness conference is an opportunity to share innovative ideas about how to promote physical activity and good nutrition in our schools. “

Conference speakers will include:

• Jack O’Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Schools
  (speaking date and time: October 1, luncheon speaker)
• Jim Ellis, swim coach and subject of the film, Pride
• Joanne Owens-Nauslar, director of corporate community relations, Walk4Life, Inc.
• Bonita Sorensen, chief deputy director of policy and programs, California Department of Public Health
• Dr. Pat Cooper, former superintendent, McComb, Mississippi
• And a variety of health and education experts who will speak on various panels.

Program Topics Include:

• Moving from Policy to Action: Local Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation
  (Monday, October 1 at 10:15 – 11:30am)
• National Tools to Evaluate Wellness Policies
  (Monday, October 1 at 3:00-4:15pm)
• Healthy Outcomes by Design: Coordinated School Health Programs
  (Monday, October 1 at 1:30-2:45pm)
• School Wellness: A National Perspective
  (Tuesday, October 2 at 3:00-4:15pm)

For a detailed list of programs and speakers at the conference, visit www.csba.org and click on the School Wellness Conference logo.

Major conference contributors include the California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Contact the CSBA staff below for more information about the conference:

On-site Media Contact:

Susan Swigart, principal director, member services/ media relations
Cell: 916.296.5873