Contact: Jenni Brockman St. Margaret's School Headmistress, Margaret R. Broad, recently attended
the 38th annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conference held March 1-4 at the Baltimore Convention Center. The gathering attracted a diversity of independent school advocates, including administrators, teachers, trustees, and others concerned about the education of K-12 age children and young people. Other SMS faculty and staff members attending the conference were Business Manager, Nancy Smith, Dean of Faculty, Cathy Sgroi, Director of Studies, ViAnn Farmer, Academic Technology Coordinator, George McDowell, and Latin teacher Marshall Lloyd. The purpose of the NAIS annual conference is to address current issues facing independent school administrators and teachers. Sessions and workshops are peer facilitated and designed to provide participants with first-hand information about relevant topics and issues of interest to independent school staff members. In addition to drawing from a wealth of member school resources, the conference features nationally known speakers possessing expertise on key educational subjects and society in general. At the March 3rd session Headmistress Broad, in consonance with Dulaney Bennett, Head of Oregon Episcopal School, and The Reverend Peter G. Cheney, Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), gave a one-hour presentation titled "Communicating and Marketing Your Mission: A Team Approach." Speaking on behalf of the NAES, the group used current Episcopal school examples to illustrate how to incorporate a multi-faceted marketing and development approach into an independent school's mission. "Communicating and marketing require a team approach", explains Mrs. Broad. "A school must always deliver a consistent and compelling message to its constituents in both internal and external communications." Other NAIS officials in attendance during the presentation included Associate Director, The Rev. Jonathan T. Glass, and Membership Services Coordinator, David J. Schnabel. Academic Technology Coordinator and World History teacher, George McDowell, attended an instructional presentation on technology. The presentation titled "Building a Tech Program from the Curriculum Up" provided an in-depth look at technology in the school curriculum. Useful information was presented on topics ranging from equipment purchasing to specialized computer training that Mr. McDowell will utilize in developing the St. Margaret's School curriculum, in which technology is heavily emphasized. Latin teacher, Marshall Davies Lloyd, attended a related technology presentation. This talk titled "Models for Faculty Technology Training" suggested innovative ways to develop a "technologically savvy" faculty. Mr. Lloyd, in addition to his teaching duties, assists Mr. McDowell with curriculum development involving technology. (Both Mr. McDowell and Mr. Lloyd assist the SMS computer network administrator, Dr. Richard Kahler.) In addition to providing Mr. Lloyd with some innovative ideas to enhance the technical skills of faculty members, the presentation also covered adult learning and computer training models.
Telephone: 804-443-3357(w/h)
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Margaret Broad Attends NAIS Conference
Margaret Broad, Headmistress, St. Margaret's School, with NAIS President, Peter Relic. Relic visited St. Margaret's last fall to view the new Community/Technology Center, a state-of-the-art science facility that features two science/lab classrooms, a computer lab, and a new dining area.
