Newswise — Several national speakers, including the real-life heroes of the blockbuster movie The Blind Side, will be in San Antonio on Sunday through Tuesday when the 19th National Conference on Family Literacy comes to the Marriott Rivercenter.
It is the largest and most comprehensive gathering of educators, government officials and practitioners dedicated to multigenerational learning.
The general public can purchase tickets for the events featuring NFL football player Michael Oher and his adoptive sister, Collins Tuohy; Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in education, creativity and innovation; and Monica Holloway, a nationally acclaimed author and mother of an autistic son.
“Literacy is the foundation for academic success, economic stability and employability,” said Sharon Darling, president & founder of NCFL. “Today, more than ever, there is a sense of urgency that we must tackle this challenge.”
Family literacy educators and advocates face a daunting task – more than 30 million adults in the United States have severe literacy problems, which, in turn, affect millions of children – including the 37 percent of fourth-graders who can’t read at the basic level.
“NCFL is in the trenches when it comes to literacy and that’s where the real work is done: one child, one family at a time,” said Byron Pitts, CBS national correspondent and ‘60 MINUTES’ contributor who will speak at the conference on Monday morning. “For those of us who want to see tangible results for our efforts, NCFL is the place to be.
“I would not be on ‘60 MINUTES’ today without my family and a small community of teachers, coaches and counselors who had both the skill and the patience to help me. Learning to read changed my life.”
Highlights of the conference include:Sunday, April 11 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.• NFL football player Michael Oher and his adoptive sister, Collins Tuohy, are the subject of the Academy Award Best Picture nominee The Blind Side. Oher and Tuohy’s story will inspire the audience on the power of family and how we can make a difference to those who need us most. (They will speak at approximately 12:55 p.m.)
Monday, April 12• Byron Pitts, author of Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges, will talk about the book and his rise to fame after overcoming illiteracy and a stuttering problem with the support of his mother, a college roommate and educators. He will speak at 9:20 a.m.
• The producer and cast members from “The Electric Company” will hold an interactive discussion from noon to 1:30 p.m. on how the show, which reaches 1 million children per week, addresses the nation’s literacy issue. The original show has been revived because millions of children are struggling to read. More than 33 percent of fourth graders are unable to read at grade level, including 54 percent of African-American students and 50 percent of Hispanic students. San Antonio was one of three test cities for the new show, which had its debut in 2009.
• Obama Administration official Brenda Dann-Messier, assistant secretary for vocational and adult education, will share the information on the Obama Administration’s literacy and education priorities and initiatives from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This session will include a discussion of the Administration’s plans for the future of adult education and family literacy. Information will be shared on current initiatives that will help attendees learn about the larger national agenda and how it may affect their work.
• Sir Ken Robinson, an internationally recognized leader in education and innovation, will be the keynote speaker at the conference banquet. Robinson, a New York Times best-selling author, will talk about cutting-edge ways to help families meet 21st century education needs and technology’s role in doing so. The banquet and awards begin at 6:30 p.m., and the speech will begin at 7:50 p.m. Tickets are required.
Tuesday, April 13• Obama Administration official Thelma Melendez speak at 10:25 a.m. about how educators can partner with the administration on strategic priorities to address elementary and secondary education issues that tie to literacy and 21st century skills. She also will give an update on the education initiatives funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.• Author Monica Holloway will speak at the closing brunch and share her personal story about parent involvement in education for an autistic child, as told through her new memoir, Cowboy and Wills. Her books have earned acclaim from Newsweek and People magazines. She will speak at 11 a.m. and sign books at 11:20 a.m. Tickets are required.
In addition, during the conference, Toyota will announce the 2010 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year, who will receive $7,500 for her program.
The first Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award will be given to two winning libraries to recognize exceptional family programming in libraries around the country. Each winning program will be awarded $10,000 in grants.
More information can be found at www.famlit.org/conference. The National Conference on Family Literacy is the largest and most comprehensive gathering of educators, government officials and practitioners dedicated to multigenerational learning. Now in its 19th year, the conference typically draws attendees from at least 45 states and several countries, such as Canada, Pakistan, Puerto Rico and South Africa.
The National Center for Family Literacy (www.famlit.org) produces this conference and has impacted more than 1 million families and trained more than 150,000 practitioners in 20 years. The conference is generously supported by sponsorships from Toyota, Verizon, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, MetLife and the University of Phoenix Foundation.
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