AEC speakers include authors, political analyst
Featured speakers at this year’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show at the San Diego Convention Center Nov. 29-Dec. 1 include two bestselling authors and a pundit whose analysis of politics in California and the United States is read around the country and beyond.
Christopher Gardner may not be a household name, but conference-goers are apt to find his story is the one they know best. His bestselling autobiography, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” was made into a popular 2006 movie starring Will Smith and his real-life son Jaden. Gardner’s triumph over childhood poverty and the challenges that confronted him as a grownup in San Francisco—including single fatherhood—underscores his message of tenacity and commitment to the responsibilities of parenthood. Gardner serves as a board member of the National Fatherhood Initiative, whose mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed fathers. He will speak at the Annual Conference’s second general session Friday, Nov. 30.
Pulitzer Prize finalist Mark Salzman will speak at the first general session on Thursday, Nov. 29. Salzman’s “True Notebooks” recounts his experiences teaching the craft of writing to violent teenage offenders in the Los Angeles Central Juvenile Hall. Central themes of Salzman’s books deal with the struggles people must overcome to reach their ideals and the changes and growth that they experience along the way. Salzman will weave this prevailing subject matter together with his personal experiences to bring a fresh perspective on alternative education.
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior scholar at the University of Southern California’s School of Policy, Planning and Development, will close out the conference’s third general session on Saturday, Dec. 1. Jeffe is familiar to millions of readers and television viewers from her incisive commentaries on government and politics in California and across the country. She will share her thoughts on current political stories and the upcoming presidential election in a session moderated by CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin.
Countdown to the conference:
- Nov. 8: Last day to preregister for $455 or to make changes to housing reservations
- Nov. 9: On-site registration begins, with the cost increasing to $525
- Nov. 28: Legal Symposium for Experienced Board Members; Student Achievement Symposium: Special Education Foundations; Orientation for New Trustees
Related link: Find out all about CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show at www.csba.org/aec