Teaching and Learning Celebration in NYC

I have a busy day ahead of me in Los Angeles, but I'm already looking ahead to tomorrow in New York City. I will address channel Thirteen's Teaching & Learning Celebration conference during the panel discussion "Where We Stand: America's Schools in the 21st Century." The panel will examine where American schools stand in the world, global competitiveness in science and math, and what we can do to strengthen American education.

Moderated by Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, the panel will also feature Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, Dr. Billy Cannaday, the Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mike Flanagan, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kim Oliver, 2006 National Teacher of the Year and Andreas Schliecher, Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division at the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development.

Now this isn't just any panel discussion. ED in '08 is co-sponsoring this multi-media panel with channel Thirteen, and the discussion will eventually be distributed and broadcast on public television stations across the country. Think of it as an education version of the 1958 CBS program called "Where We Stand" which was a powerful media response to the launch of Sputnik fifty years ago.

Now is the time for America to work together to solve our problems.  Just as after the launch of Sputnik, Americans worked together under the leadership of President Kennedy to bring a man to the moon, we need the next president to make education a priority and offer bold education plans to improve our schools and ensure the security of our children's futures.

The overall goal is to raise the level of conversation about where our schools are and where they need to be, and to make sure that a dialogue is taking place in homes and communities throughout the country as well as among state and federal policy makers.

I'm sure next week I'll have lots to report about the ideas discussed on the panel, and from the teachers we'll meet at the conference!