Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman ? whose commentary on politics and social change is published in more than 450 newspapers ? will be the keynote speaker at the Education Minnesota Professional Conference Oct. 16-17 in St. Paul.

The conference, the state?s largest professional development event for educators, is expected to draw up to 10,000 people. It will be held Thursday and Friday at Touchstone Energy Place at RiverCentre, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. It is free and open to the public ? no registration required.

The 2003 conference, titled "Accountability: It?s More than a Test," also will address the implications of the new No Child Left Behind law, new state standards and accountability measures facing public schools.

Goodman will speak at the 11 a.m. general session Oct. 16. W. James Popham, one of the nation?s foremost authorities on student testing, will speak at 9:45 a.m. Oct. 16 and 9 a.m. Oct. 17.

Other speakers Oct. 16 include David Jennings, chief operating officer of the Minneapolis schools; a panel of officials from the Minnesota Department of Education; and Ligia Ines Alzate, a school principal and union leader from Colombia in South America.

The first day of the conference features more than 60 workshops and more than 300 exhibits of educational products and services. On Oct. 17, nine two-hour seminars provide the opportunity to discuss education issues in depth.

Education Minnesota represents 70,000 teachers and other education employees throughout Minnesota.

For more information
View the entire conference schedule on the Education Minnesota website.