The purpose of this Vendor Fair Un-Conference is to provide LEA and ESC personnel with the inspiration, knowledge, and resources they need to be successful in identifying resources for their federal grant responsibilities and district activities related to: Parent and Family Engagement (PFE), McKinney-Vento for students and families experiencing homelessness, and students and families involved in Foster Care or working with the Department of Family and Protective Services. One primary goal is to provide participants with practical suggestions to continue their valient efforts and assist them in taking their recent Comprehensive, Combined Needs Assessment (CCNA) and their drafted District or Campus Improvement Plans (DIPs/LEA Plan and CIPs/Schoolwide Plan) into the identification of resources and vendors to meet their identified goals or objectives.
One prominent keynote speaker will be Michele Myers, author of "The Educator's Guide To Building Child & Family Resilience" and our other prominent keynote speaker will be Jaime Huerta, Senior Division Director and State Director for Title I, Part A – PFE, with TEA.
We will have a host of forefront vendors whose focus is providing tools and resources for education personnel providing support to our students, parents, families, and communities in the above-mentioned areas.
The proposed agenda is:
- 8:30 Breakfast *
- 9:00 Welcome and Keynote Speaker
- 11:00 Lunch * and Vendor Fair
- 1:15 Second Keynote Speaker
- 3:00 Vendor Fair
* Breakfast and lunch provided (if sponsors obtained).
Consider being prepared to participate in the Vendor Fair with the following knowledge:
- What tools and resources does your district need to meet the goals and objectives of your grant or federal statute requirements?
- What tools and resources does your district need to meet the goals and objectives of your Comprehensive, Combined Needs Assessment (CCNA) and your drafted District or Campus Improvement Plans (DIPs/LEA Plan and CIPs/Schoolwide Plan)?
- What tools and resources have you budgeted for in this school year which you are ready to explore procuring?
- What gaps do you have in the current resources you provide for PFE and students and families experiencing homelessness or working with foster care?
Recommendation for who should attend from your LEA: We recommend you have a team attendance of the key stakeholders involved in Parent and Family Engagement at both your LEA/district level and your campus levels. This could include your federal programs staff, your central office PFE staff, your principals, your campus level PFE Staff, any parent liaisons, counselors, and/or a superintendent responsible for approving and authorizing your PFE policies and procedures. It could also include your attendance and truancy liaisons and your communications and community relations staff. We also recommend you have a team attendance of the key stakeholders involved in McKinney-Vento and Homelessness. This should include your McKinney-Vento Liaison and your Foster Care Liaison.