The 2005 Regional Spring Professional Development Training Conference was held at the Grand Casino Bayview Hotel in Biloxi from April 20th to the 22nd. The theme of the conference—which was hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Innovative Support in collaboration with the Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Alabama McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Programs—was Reaching for Excellence. Nearly 200 liaisons, administrators, and program personnel from five states engaged in three days of spirited discussions, workshops, and panel presentations that underscored the importance of striving for excellence in all aspects of homeless education and administration.

The opening session introduced participants to the conference’s main objective: identifying ways to foster student excellence. The following morning, the discussion expanded to include the importance of advocating for excellence at the administrative and classroom level. Keynote speaker Frank Charles Winstead, CEO of Advocate for Excellence in America’s Classrooms, is highly regarded for his inspiring educational seminars. The Mississippi Department of Education calls Winstead “a master storyteller” who “highlights exemplary teachers from his past as he artfully weaves numerous anecdotes into his presentations with research from contemporary scholars.”1 One attendee, Sonja Bens Harrison, Student Services Coordinator from Plano ISD, rates Winstead as “one of the best speakers I have ever heard.”

On the second afternoon, the participants broke into small groups to discuss the importance of seeking excellence in such critical instructional areas as early childhood education, tutoring, students with disabilities, community collaboration, and literacy development. Cathy Requejo, Homeless Liaison at Austin ISD, was among those who attended the students with disabilities session. In addition to a review of general yet indispensable information, Cathy obtained “some logistical info that I did not know about.” Sonja, who participated in a session on networking to build McKinney-Vento resources, remarks that the services she performs will be greatly assisted by her participation.  She has since been asked to join the Homeward Bound Task Force for Collin County, Texas, where she will be able to put into practice many of the ideas she picked up at the conference. “I look forward,” she proudly declares, “to assisting in developing a plan to end chronic homelessness in Collin County.” 

Day three, during which participants had an opportunity to ask specific questions about policy-related matters, featured a panel discussion that focused on the implementation of

McKinney-Vento mandates; Barbara Duffield, Director of Policy at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, and Joy Moses, Education Attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, took part in the dialogue. Cathy found the informal approach very helpful for understanding the often-dry policies and procedures. “Much of the information helped to clarify some recent issues regarding laws,” she observes. “I have been around a while. Some training seminars seem to cover the same thing, which is great for new liaisons, but not so great for us ‘seasoned’ liaisons. I did not feel that way at the Biloxi training.”

While Sonja and Cathy agreed that the itinerary, speakers, and location were well chosen and added to their overall experience, it was the fellowship that truly made the three-day conference both personally edifying and beneficial to their professional needs. “In the sessions, during dinner or conversation, I was constantly encountering new ideas, a new spin on an old idea, and tips from ‘seasoned cohorts,’” says Sonja. “It reminded me that we are all in this together and that there is always someone to call for help or motivation.”  For Cathy, the interactions with other liaisons and educators were both assuring and motivational. “It’s confirming to be around others who also believe that our work makes a difference.” The casual revelations of a single individual can often spark insights and new perspectives, as when Cathy listened to a principal talk about his students, the challenges they face, and the opportunities that teachers have to assist them through impassioned dedication. “He reminded me that all the little things we do add up, and our efforts truly do impact the lives of our students.”

The 2005 Regional Spring Professional Development Training Conference in Biloxi was an all-around success for the liaisons, administrators, and program personnel who participated. Attendees were inspired to excel in the finer point of education and administering to children in homeless situations, instructed in policies and procedures for upholding the McKinney Vento legislation, and given the rare opportunity to share ideas and experiences with out-of-state colleagues. Both Sonja and Cathy were impressed by the level of professionalism and the relevance of the conference’s focus. Sonja was particularly encouraged by the informal exchanges and conversations among the attendees, finding both solidarity and solace in the anecdotes of others who, like her, work daily to make a difference in the lives of their students. Cathy’s reflection on this aspect of the conference undoubtedly resonates with most who work tirelessly to overcome this country’s homeless epidemic: “The little things that pamper and affirm liaisons seems to make a tremendous difference.” Perhaps next year’s conference will offer similiar affirmation to an even larger body of participants.