For the second year, Baylor University School of Education (SOE) and the Texas Private Schools Association (TPSA) are jointly sponsoring a statewide conference for administrators and teachers in private and independent schools. The conference will be on Wednesday, July 9, in Baylor’s Marrs McLean Science building, the home of the SOE.

Dr. Randy M. Wood, director of the SOE’s Center for Christian Education, said the one-day conference is strategically scheduled in midsummer “to allow administrators and teachers to come with an open mind and go away with a mind full of new ideas.” The conference also provides inservice training opportunity for the educators.

This year’s conference focuses on three main topics—school choice, health care and academic accountability—which will be covered during different sessions throughout the day.

Laura Colangelo, Executive Director of TPSA, will moderate a session with Rep. Scott Turner, from District 33 of Rockwall, discussing ideas that may come up in the next session of the Texas Legislature in 2015.

Misty Baker, director of health insurance information for the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, will explain how the Affordable Care Act affects Texas private and independent schools as employers. The lunch speaker is Rachel Carter of Living Tree, a private community engagement network.

During the afternoon, Baylor professors and graduate students will present curriculum sessions in four core content areas: English, math, social studies and science. Hands-on activities will provide teachers with ideas for reaching their students in new and creative ways.

Wood said, “I am so pleased that we have so many outstanding faculty and graduate students who want to share their insights and creativity with the private and independent school teachers and administrators. Overall it should be a very interesting and rewarding day.”

Wood said that co-sponsoring the conference with TPSA is a great way for Baylor to reach out to schools that it does not have a regular opportunity to reach.

“We hope that our strong relationship with TPSA will deepen and that this conference will continue to grow and meet the needs of these schools in the future,” he said.