Educators get lesson in being effective, successful teachers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2009

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—Understanding student behavior and being an effective, successful teacher was the focus of the first workshop in the Jim Boyd Effective Schools Project (ESP) development series at Tarleton State University on Sept. 15.

Spencer Henry, a nationally-recognized authority on school improvement and school climate, addressed an audience of more than 350, including 280 public school teachers and principals, 75 Tarleton student teachers and 15 Tarleton faculty members. There were 62 schools represented from 27 school districts.

The leadership development conferences feature speakers most school districts would not be able to afford on their own. Featured speakers focus on the latest education techniques, practices or strategies designed to increase classroom learning and improve educators within their classrooms.

Henry was the first of four speakers who will visit Tarleton’s campus this year. Henry is a former teacher, coach and school administrator with more than 40 years experience in education. This was his third consecutive year to address ESP participants. He also has worked individually with Stephenville, Granbury, Glen Rose, Alvarado and Brady school districts.

His presentation focused on the principles for managing today’s classroom, creating a safe, secure learning environment built on mutual respect, cooperation and trust, motivating students, avoiding power struggles with teachers and intervention strategies for inappropriate behavior.

Teacher responses from Henry’s presentation were very positive, according to Dr. Bill Larmer, professor in Tarleton’s College of Education and director of ESP.

“Great speaker. I learned a lot and came away excited and motivated to implement the strategies I learned,” wrote one teacher, who attended the conference.

Another wrote, “Every teacher should be required to take this seminar. Great material.”

Upcoming speakers for ESP include:

• Robyn Jackson — Oct. 8 —“Never Work Harder Than Your Students”

• Gretchen Goodman — Feb. 3, 2010 — “RTI: A Major Overhaul in Referring & Qualifying Students for Special Education, Grades Pre-K-5 and 6-12”

• Alan Blankstein — March 10, 2010 — “Failure is Not an Option”

ESP is a collaborative professional development program involving Tarleton and public schools within its service area. Since it began more than 20 years ago, ESP has become one of the nation’s longest-running school-improvement programs. It is also one of the most unique education partnerships in Texas, possibly the United States. 



According to Larmer, the membership of ESP consists of principals and faculty representing school districts from the Tarleton service area. Each school pays a membership fee, and the funds are combined to provide workshops by highly qualified, nationally recognized educators.

For more information on ESP, visit www.tarleton.edu/esp/.

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