Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Leadership and Education to Sponsor Celebration of Teaching & Learning 2010 in New York City

Minneapolis—February 24, 2010—Walden University is proud to demonstrate its 40-year commitment to the education community through The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership’s sponsorship of the Celebration of Teaching & Learning 2010, one of the nation’s top professional development conferences for educators, which will be held March 5–6 at the Hilton New York in New York City.

This year’s Main Plenary Panel Session will be held on Friday, March 5, at 1 p.m. and will feature a discussion on education in the United States with Richard W. Riley, the former U.S. Secretary of Education, and the current U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. During their plenary session, the two will discuss “Transforming Schools for the 21st Century,” including where the country is today and where it is heading under the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and initiatives such as Race to the Top and the Common Core State Standards. There will be a live webcast of the plenary panel on www.WaldenU.edu.

As a leader in education programs for working professionals, Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership prepares educators as scholar-practitioners who can inspire and impact their diverse learning communities. Walden’s degree programs support the needs of educators at all levels, from preschool through higher education, and at various stages of their profession, including career-changers interested in pursuing teaching, new and veteran classroom teachers, and experienced faculty and administrators.

“Walden’s 40-year legacy of educating educators has produced thousands of Walden students and alumni who are leaders in our classrooms and schools across the country and around the world. We are inspired by the community of learners in Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership and celebrate the profound difference they make as educators every day,” said Jonathan Kaplan, president of Walden University. “We are proud to be a partner in this important conference for educators and administrators and look forward to the creative ideas and boundless potential that will come from it.”

Walden speakers at the conference will include:

• Dr. Barbara Weschke, program director, MS in Education, reading specializations, leading “In the Classroom” workshops on engaging and effective tools teachers can use to help students demonstrate their reading comprehension and fluency.
• Dr. Casey Reason, contributing faculty member, PhD in Education program, leading “In the Classroom” workshops on how change, collaboration and brain research relate to teacher leadership.
• Dr. J. Ana Donaldson, contributing faculty member, PhD in Education program, educational technology, participating as a featured speaker panelist on educational technology with Karen Cator, the United States Department of Education’s Director of Educational Technology, and Linda Roberts, former Director of the Educational Technology office under Secretary Richard W. Riley.

There will be a Walden University booth in the exhibitor hall and The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership also will sponsor a reception with Walden special guests to honor current and prospective students, alumni and faculty for their contributions to the education community.

More than 8,500 educators from across the United States and Canada are expected to attend the two-day event, which will focus on the theme “Where Knowledge Meets Inspiration.” Dubbed “The World’s Fair of Education,” Celebration of Teaching & Learning 2010 will include six plenary sessions, nearly 40 Featured Speaker sessions, more than 100 hands-on “In the Classroom” workshops and two halls of exhibitors featuring the latest in educational tools, interactive events and book signings.

About Walden University
For 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 40,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of 45 online and campus-based universities in 20 countries.

Walden offers more than 40 degree programs with more than 180 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include: health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration, technology and engineering. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.