Education Conference Draws Nearly 1500 to MSU

Nearly 1,500 educators from 81 school districts across five states were at Murray State University last week for a professional development conference.

Through a partnership between Murray State’s Teacher Quality Institute and the Kentucky Academy of Technology of Education, “The Summit: A Teaching and Technology Conference” offered educators innovative and collaborative activities, seminars and workshops that introduced new ideas to the classroom. Participants were eligible to receive six hours of Professional Development or Effective Instructional Leadership Act credit each day.

This was the seventh annual summit, which took place June 11-12. According to a press release, this year's meeting emphasized technology and its increased role in education. Keynote speakers included Marshall County School District Superintendent Trent Lovett, authors Kasey Bell and Matt Miller, kindergarten teacher Christine Pinto and licensed clinical social worker Angie Judd.

Principal and social media star Gerry Brooks was the keynote speaker at the event. Brooks is well-known among educators, with more than a million Facebook and Youtube subscribers.

Kem Cothran, coordinator of the Teacher Quality Institute, said the 1,500 on campus for the summit’s second day nearly doubled last year’s 800 attendees. 

“We’re so excited to see this summit grow year after year,” Cothran said. “This is a unique professional development opportunity
you’ll only find at Murray State. I spent 27 years in public education, so I know how difficult it can be to get high-quality
development; most events like this are far away and expensive, so to be able to provide this right here at our university at no cost to educators is something special.”

The summit also provided a hands-on experience for Murray State education students, who worked with educators in attendance.

“I’ve met a lot of school administrators over the past two days,” said senior Mackenzie Harper, an elementary education major from
Marshall County, Kentucky, who will begin student teaching this fall. “This has been a great opportunity for me to familiarize myself with area school districts and make connections for future internships and a career in education.”