MCPS to Participate in National Webcast on Fostering Strong School District-Union Relations

Superintendent of Schools Jerry D. Weast and Montgomery County Education Association President Bonnie Cullison will participate in a Webcast panel discussion on the relationship between school district and labor leadership. A panel of experts experienced in productive district-union partnerships will discuss their successes and provide information on how all school leaders can increase cooperation and understanding.

Live Webcast Discussion

When: Monday, June 19th, 2006
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Where: www.kwfdn.org

KnowledgeWorks Foundation is sponsoring the live panel discussion based on real-world lessons of successful district-union partnerships profiled in a new publication, Leadership in Education: A Handbook for School Superintendents and Teacher Union Presidents, by Robert Barkley. The publication provides guidance on how superintendents and teacher union presidents can foster collaborative relationships.

Panelists will address the often avoidable difficulties these positions regularly have with each other and offer explicit lessons for resolving these issues. Their discussion will be Webcast live from the television studios of Montgomery County Public Schools. The 140,000-student school system has successfully utilized principles recognized by Barkley for constructive and collaborative union-district relations.

Other panelists are:

• Robert Barkley, Jr., author of Leadership in Education; former executive director, Ohio Education Association
• Dennis Van Roekel, vice president, National Education Association
• Jeff Archer, associate editor, Education Week
• Lew Rhodes (moderator), former associate executive director, American Association of School Administrators

View panelist biographies and event details of the Webcast on KnowledgeWorks Foundation’s Web site.