Finnish educator to keynote educators’ fall conference

Finnish educator and scholar Pasi Sahlberg will explain how Finland built its education system into one of the best in the world during his keynote speech at the Education Minnesota Professional Conference, which runs from Oct. 16 to 17 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.
 
Sahlberg argues Finland’s focus on the whole child, giving teachers time to collaborate and improve their practice, and understanding the importance of play in a child’s growth and development were what drove Finland’s success – not so-called “reforms” common in the United States that overemphasize standardized testing and privatization.
 
Sahlberg, author of the noted book, “Finnish Lessons,” will speak at 11:45 a.m. Thursday during the General Session at Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Other notables scheduled to attend the conference include Friday keynoter John H. Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation, and Dr. William Dikel, a Minneapolis psychiatrist and consultant on student mental health.
 
The Education Minnesota Professional Conference is the largest professional development event in the state for educators. This year the number of Friday workshops will triple to meet the demand for high-quality continuing education. There are more than 110 sessions over the two days. The theme of this year’s conference is “Inspired by Students, Dedicated to the Profession.”
 
In addition to the workshops, hundreds of educational exhibits will be on display throughout the day Thursday, Oct. 16.

The Education Minnesota Professional Conference is free and open to the public. Doors open for the two-day, union-sponsored conference at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 16. It runs until 3:50 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Friday.
 
For more information, visit the Education Minnesota website.
 
Thousands of educators, support professionals, parents and others attend the conference every year. Educators attend the conference on their own time. This is the 17th year of the Education Minnesota Professional Conference. Previous education conventions or conferences in Minnesota, which were known by different names, date back to 1861.