The 2007 Capital Conference

It’s that time again, time to start making plans to attend the OSBA Capital Conference and Trade Show. The Midwest’s — and one of the nation’s — premier education conferences kicks off on Sunday, Nov. 11 and wraps up on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

The four-day celebration of learning, networking and fellowship regularly draws over 10,000 attendees to the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC). School board members, administrators, exhibitors, students and guests from around the education world will gather under one large roof for the 52nd annual conference. Whatever your professional development needs, the conference can fulfill them with its comprehensive curriculum of cutting-edge topics.

In addition to hundreds of outstanding workshops, seminars and information sessions, the conference offers one of the largest education Trade Shows in the country, with more than 700 booths filled with school-related goods and services.

Nationally known speakers will once again headline the general sessions, Pre-conference Workshop, luncheons and other venues. Scores of specialists from a wide range of disciplines will explore hundreds of topics in panel discussions, dialogue sessions, workshops and the Student Achievement Fair.

The breakout sessions are organized into 15 learning tracks: administration, board development, career education, community relations, educational service centers, finance, hot topics, human resources, instruction, legal (which includes the School Law Workshop), organizational outlook, safety and wellness, student achievement, student issues and technology. From the Preponderance on Sunday through the third General Session on Wednesday, the Capital Conference provides a professional development experience unlike any other.

The first General Session speaker is veteran educator, consultant and author David Warlick, owner of The Landmark Project, a professional development, Web design and innovations firm in Raleigh, N.C. He replaces the originally scheduled speaker Dr. Pedro Noguera.

An educational technology innovator and leader, Warlick promotes a powerful new vision for the classroom that is revolutionizing education. His ideas for creating a new kind of classroom based on a 21st century information environment will inspire you to take a fresh look at how your schools are educating children.

Raised in foster care for 18 years, Victoria Rowell is one of today’s most talented actresses. Her film résumé includes “Dumb and Dumber” with Jim Carrey and “Distinguished Gentleman” with Eddie Murphy. She also appears in this year’s “Home of the Brave,” in which she plays Samuel L. Jackson’s wife in a story of three soldiers who have just returned home after lengthy tours in Iraq. Among her TV credits are “The Cosby Show,” “The Young and the Restless” and “Diagnosis Murder.” The Second General Session sponsor is Scott, Scriven & Wahoff LLP.

But her greatest passion is helping foster children reach their full potential, which she does through her Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan, a scholarship program that enables foster children to grow through arts classes, sports and cultural enrichment. She also works with other foster care groups.

Veteran actor Louis Gossett Jr. wraps up the conference at the third General Session. One of today’s busiest actors, his talent for portraying charismatic and powerful characters has earned him a number of coveted awards, including an Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe. His roles include the character Fiddler in the historic TV miniseries “Roots,” and a relentless gunnery sergeant in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

Gossett’s passion for his work is matched only by a strong belief in giving back to the community. He is a spokesman and behind-the-scenes leader for many charitable groups. In 2006 he founded the Eracism Foundation, whose mission is “to eradicate the systematic impacts of all forms of racism by providing programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education and antiviolence initiatives.”

The Third General Session sponsors are Butler Wick & Co. Inc. and Peck, Shaffer & Williams LLP.

Other special events include the Pre-conference Workshop led by Ian Jukes; the Monday Conference Luncheon featuring Rocky Bleier; and Tuesday’s Conference Luncheon with Sonia Manzano.