October 26, 2000
For Immediate Release
Contact: Evelyne Girardet
(312) 573-4646

Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas to Speak at Region’s Largest Gathering of Independent Schools

CHICAGO—Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas will be among a long list of nationally acclaimed educators to present at the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and Lake Michigan Association of Independent Schools Regional Conference on November 2-3 in Chicago.
The two-day conference, with more than 2,100 teachers and administrators from 15 states expected to attend, is considered to be one of the largest gatherings of independent schools in the nation. About 225 workshops and seminars will focus on a wide variety of topics ranging from diversity and gay and lesbian issues, to creating a civil society in schools, curriculum improvement, and school security. The event will be split between The Westin Hotel, 909 N. Michigan Ave, The Latin School of Chicago, 59 W. North Blvd., and Francis W. Parker School, 330 W. Webster.
On Thursday, November 2, in a keynote luncheon speech (noon to1:30 p.m. at the Westin Hotel) Paul Vallas will discuss "Public/Private School Partnerships." In addition to Vallas, other featured speakers to present at the conference include:

• David Walsh, Ph.D., founder of the National Institute on Media and Family, author of the award-winning Selling Out America’s Children, and one of the leading authorities on the impact of media on children and families will address "The Media Revolution and Education."
• Philip Fitch Vincent, Ph.D., Group/Director of the Center for the Study of Character and Leadership at Greensboro College, North Carolina and author of 18 books has been featured on the CBS news segment "Eye on America" for his work on developing civility in schools. Vincent will discuss "Character Education: Involving Schools, Communities and Families."
  
• Lorene Cary gained recognition after the publication of Black Ice, a memoir of her years, first as a black female student and then as a teacher, at St. Paul’s, an exclusive New England boarding school. Carey’s presentation will focus on "Creative Tension Making Diversity Work."
  
• Michael Thompson, Ph.D., preeminent child psychologist and author of the best-selling Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, will speak about peer pressure, friendship, popularity and social cruelty.
  
  For more information about the conference or individual speakers contact Evelyne Girardet, assistant director of public relations at The Latin School, (312) 573-4646 or visit the ISACS website at: www.isacs.org.