Thousands of teachers will come together at 38 locations across the state — including at Cal State Fullerton and CSUF’s Irvine Campus — for the second annual Better Together: California Teachers Summit on Friday, July 29, a unique day of learning led by teachers, for teachers.
The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, California State University and New Teacher Center are hosting the statewide event. Keynote speakers are Cal State Fullerton alumnus, teacher and author Kelly Gallagher ‘83 (B.A. communications) and actor Ernie Hudson of the original “Ghostbusters” movie. Hudson will speak at 9:15 a.m. and Gallagher at 2 p.m. The keynoters will deliver their addresses from the CSUF campus, with their talks live streamed to locations across the state — including the Irvine Campus.
Gallagher, who travels the world to speak to educators and others, will discuss “Writing: the Cornerstone of Literacy.”
“I am concerned that writing has been put on the back burner in a lot of schools. I am hoping that teachers across all content areas understand why all of our students should be writing a lot more,” said Gallagher, who has authored six books, including his bestseller, “Readicide,” which contends that American schools are furthering the decline of reading.
The EdTalk speakers and their topics at the CSUF main campus are:
9:45 a.m. – Holly Breanne Steele, a Fullerton School District teacher on special assignment for STEM, “Belief in a Sea of Change.”
1:45 p.m. – CSUF alumna Lizzette Barrios-Gracián, a Spanish teacher at Anaheim High School, “Teaching Activism to Empower our Students.” She completed CSUF’s bilingual authorization credential program.
At the Irvine Campus are:
9:45 a.m. – CSUF alumnus Darin Nakakihara ’03, ’09 (B.A. communications-public relations, multiple-subject credential program), a fourth-grade teacher at Beacon Park School in Irvine, “It’s Time to Disrupt Education.”
1:45 p.m. – Janet English, a biology and broadcast journalism teacher at El Toro High School, “Three Powerful Steps to Optimize Learning.
Attendees also will engage in Edcamp discussions on timely topics such as the California Standards in English/language arts and math, and Next Generation Science Standards.
The free Teachers Summit will be held from 8:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. in Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Gym, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831; and CSUF’s Irvine Campus, 3 Banting, Irvine, 92618. The Irvine Campus is at capacity and there is a waiting list. Registration is still available online for the CSUF main campus.