the National Coalition
for Exemplary Schools
“Dramatically improving schools and kids is our business.”
We Believe our children will go to college.
We Expect our children to go to college.
We will Instill in our children each and every
day that they can and will graduate
from college.
The Coalition’s mission is to lead the nation in creating innovative, engaging and motivating environments in which students will thrive.
1 Day Conferences
Our one day conferences are called the Faces of Change Student Leadership Conferences. These conferences bring 5th grade, middle/junior high and high school students to college campuses in gender specific environments. The conferences focus on building the pipeline of future leaders while inspiring, challenging and motivating our young people to complete high school successfully and then begin the planning to attend college. Students meet successful adults and university students who resemble and represent them while they receive critical life-changing information.
Students participate in small and large group interactive workshops and activities prompting them to think about their future and how to reach their destination. The Faces of Change curriculum is used as the framework for the workshops and activities and provides youth a hands-on way to explore and find the answers to the crucial questions in their lives: Who am I? Where am I going? How will I get there?
1 Day Conferences
“. . . Our students are really pumped up about going to college!” - Teacher
“It made a big impact on our students. They’re already talking about next year.” - Graduation Coach
“One student stated this was the most life-relevant school activity he had ever been a part of.” - Principal
"This was the best field trip we have ever been on." - Principal
"I wish all of the men at our school could have been here today." - Counselor
"During our post-conference reflection the following day, they revealed that they learned a ton of things that they didn't know about goal setting, college and life in general." - Teacher
CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION
Students participate in a large group interactive workshop, a panel discussion with
university students prompting them to think about their future and how to reach their
destination and a tour of campus.
PROGRAM
9:00-9:30 Registration
9:30-10:00 Team-Building Activities
10:00-10:10 Welcome
10:10-11:10 Faces of Change
Large Group Session
11:10-12:10 Campus Tour
12:10-12:45 Breakout Session - University Student Panel
12:45-1:15 Lunch
NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND?
Please do not let the registration fee of $25 deter you from attending. Many many schools request and receive substantial financial assistance from their PTA, Business Partners, Academic Booster Club, District Title I, Title III, Title IV, ESOL Departments or Gear Up funds. We have never heard of a school being denied.
The cost is $25 for each student and chaperone.
All students and chaperones receive lunch (food and drink) and a momento of the day. Additionally, each chaperone will receive a copy of the Faces of Change workbook. Activities in this book are used with the students throughout the conference.
CONFERENCE INFORMATION
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, both boys and girls will attend on the same day. Upon their arrival on campus, they will attend and participate in gender-specific activities.
Each conference is limited to 200-400 students so register as early as possible. Admission is on a first come first serve basis. All students should bring a pencil/pen and a small notebook. All students should “dress to impress”. For young men, this means at least a shirt and tie.
Students should arrive between 9am-9:30am. The program will begin at 10am and end at 1:15pm.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
• Underrepresented students
• Middle and high school (9th-11th gr.) students who need to be:
- Motivated to reach the next stage of their life
- Shown how school performance correlates to “LIFE” performance
- Exposed to successful adults and university students who look like
them and can relate to their experiences
• Students who display some or all of the following characteristics:
- Behavior interferes w/ school success
- Below average attendance
- Disengaged from the learning process
- Performing below potential and/or ability
- Low self esteem, self image, self control, self confidence
At each Conference, students are given the
MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION and INFORMATION to dream and “do” bigger!
HISTORY OF CONFERENCES
The inaugural “Student Leadership Conference” was conducted during the 2006-2007 school year. Since this time, it has expanded to include conferences in Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee impacting the lives of over 15,000 students over the last 4 years. This year, conferences will be expanded to 9 states and include 20 university campuses across the U.S.
