Back to School and Back to NAGC24!
By Catherine Little, NAGC President-Elect and NAGC24 Convention Committee Chair
I love the beginning of a new school year. Sure, I’m sad to see the end of summer, and usually there’s a little apprehension about the challenges ahead, but I love the sense of new beginnings, of renewal, and of possibility as September approaches every year. I feel fortunate to be part of a profession that has these cycles of renewal, growth, and reflection, so that every year we have the chance to refine what we’ve done before, try out new ideas, and see a bright future in the new and returning faces in our schools and other centers for learning.
I am also excited every fall to look ahead to the NAGC24 Annual Convention, with all the opportunities it brings for exploring new directions, spending time with friends and colleagues, and seeking renewal and growth. The NAGC staff, the Convention Committee, and the Local Host Committee have been hard at work preparing for our gathering in Seattle this November. This is NAGC’s first time in Seattle, and we are looking forward to all that this great location has in store.
The Convention will offer more than 200 sessions across four days, including more than 500 presenters working to share their knowledge, insights, and experiences about the persistent questions and new challenges we face as a field. We’ll see familiar faces and new ones on the program, and some new formats along with those that are tried and true. At this year’s convention, participants will have the chance to squeeze in an extra session or two with some 45-minute blocks, or to try out some “deep dive” 90-minute sessions. We are also offering two postconvention workshops in addition to our preconvention events, for those who want to extend the learning on either end of the event!
We are also excited to welcome participants to our new “Lesson Roundtable” sessions, which will be lively events at which presenters will share specific, practical examples of classroom learning experiences designed to support advanced learning. During these sessions, participants will get to choose three different tables to visit for 15-minute blocks, covering a wide variety of content areas and grade levels in fast-paced conversations!
The Convention also offers the chance for our community to recognize 70 years of NAGC, including some reflections on our history and celebrations of excellence among our members and the learners we support. Whether this would be your first convention or your 40th, I hope you’ll consider joining us to connect, reflect, renew, and look ahead. Please watch your NAGC communications in the coming weeks for more details on the schedule of events and the opportunities to be involved.
And as you are building lesson plans and syllabi, writing welcome letters and name cards, and greeting students, families, and colleagues as another school year begins, I hope you are as excited as I am to see where the paths ahead may take us. Wishing a safe and satisfying new school year to all—hope to see you in Seattle!
