Each week leading up to the 57th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show, look in this space for a new "Previewing the Conference" program. Kathleen Burke, Director of ASCD Annual Conference, hosts a series of exciting interviews highlighting key issues and themes that ASCD members will discuss in San Antonio. Meet and hear the views of key conference participants — presented in streaming audio and text.

And if you haven't yet registered to attend the Annual Conference, do it today. Simply click here to go to the ASCD Annual Conference registration page.

"Choosing to Dance" — An Interview with ASCD President Kay Musgrove

ASCD's 2002 Annual Conference is constructed around the theme "Choosing to Dance: Taking Bold Steps for the Sake of Our Children." For ASCD President Kay Awalt Musgrove that theme embodies both a major challenge facing educators and a strong personal commitment to risk-taking and change. Interviewer Kathleen Burke explores the 2002 theme and other aspects of the upcoming Annual Conference with President Musgrove. Click the link the above to listen to the interview and read a transcript.

An Interview with Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders — ASCD 2002 Annual Conference Keynote Speaker

Former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is a passionate and formidable advocate for children - especially the need for comprehensive health education and health care. "Despite being the richest country in the world, we rank behind 11 other countries in how we take care of our children and how we educate them, and then we're 54th in healthcare," Dr. Elders explains to interviewer Kathleen Burke. Listen to Dr. Elders to preview her remarks at the upcoming ASCD Annual Conference and share some of her passionate commitment to children, education, and health. Click on the link above to listen to the interview and read a transcript.

ASCD's "Health in Education Initiative" — An Interview with Project Director Theresa Lewallen

The ASCD's Health in Education Initiative, explains ASCD's Theresa Lewallen, has the ambitious goal of raising awareness among middle and high school educators about public health issues and careers - sponsoring partnerships between schools and community-based public health agencies. Lewallen discusses the initiative and previews how the theme of health in education will be woven throughout the San Antonio Annual Conference. Click on the link the above to listen to the interview with Theresa Lewallen by Kathleen Burke and read a transcript of their discussion.

"Resiliency and Health in the World's Most Noble Profession" — A Discussion with Vermont Commissioner of Education Ray McNulty

At the 2002 ASCD Annual Conference, Ray McNulty plans to turn the spotlight on the health and well-being of educators. As McNulty explains to interviewer Kathleen Burke, "Educators, and particularly many that I work with, have a need to do a lot for other people, but they forget about themselves. They actually feel guilty when they do things for themselves...I really believe, and my fellow researchers believe, that it is essential for them as educators in the classroom, at whatever level, to model a great balance in life." Join Ray McNulty here - and in San Antonio - for unique insights into how to combat the stress of classroom life. Click on the link the below to listen to the interview and read a transcript.

"Curriculum Doesn't Happen in a Vacuum" — An Interview with Dr. Carol Tomlinson, Professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia

Curriculum, says Dr. Carol Tomlinson, develops in a positive classroom environment where students from diverse backgrounds struggle to learn and to develop a sense of connection and a sense of value. At the 2002 ASCD Annual Conference, Tomlinson explains, she wants her session to share what it means to be "an architect of a community of learning in which all students come to understand that this is a place where growth is expected and that to do less is really not a good thing." Click on the link the below to listen to the interview with Dr. Tomlinson by Kathleen Burke and read a transcript of their discussion.

"Staff Development, Leadership, and Accountability" — An Interview with educational consultant Beverley Showers

Kathleen Burke interviews California-based staff development expert Beverley Showers - a presenter at the 2002 ASCD Annual Conference. Showers describes the relationship between two major challenges educators face: state accountability standards linked to testing and the quality of staff development. In this interview, she ties those two issues to the broader concept of leadership at the local school level. Click on the link above to listen to the interview and read a transcript.