Radford University hosts school leaders for annual Hot Topics Conference

Radford University hosted the Virginia School Leaders Second Annual Hot Topics Conference June 18, a day-long event designed for K-12 teachers and school administrators to focus on leadership topics impacting their school divisions.

Co-sponsored by Radford University’s Educational Leadership Program and the Virginia Western Public Education Consortium, the conference featured a variety of guest speakers, including Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

About 125 school leaders from around Virginia participated in the conference. The group included educators, principals, assistant principals, superintendents and central office supervisors.

Group discussions addressed problem-based learning, tips for supporting special education law compliance in schools and staying abreast of legal issues affecting schools.

Each speaker had 45 minutes to present on a topic, and an additional 30 minutes to work with conference participants to discuss, share and plan for application of the information, said Brad Bizzell, the Radford University Educational Leadership Program Coordinator and one of the conference organizers.

“All of the expertise we need as school leaders to serve the children in Virginia exists within Virginia,” said Bizzell, an associate professor in the university’s School of Teacher Education and Leadership. “What we need is a way to share this knowledge and expertise widely across schools. The format of the School Leaders Hot Topics Conference is designed to do just that.”

In his keynote address, Northam thanked those in attendance for their work as educators.

“It’s not easy work, but it is important work,” he said. “We appreciate what you do for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and what you do to contribute to the education of our children.”