Conference Theme: "It's All About the CHILDren" 
This year's Annual CHILD Conference was a huge success. Over 275 educators spent April 20 & 21, 2007 at the Radisson WorldGate Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. The event was expanded to two full days this year. On Friday morning, over 75 people hopped onto buses to visit two CHILD schools- Canoe Creek Charter Academy in St. Cloud and Reedy Creek Elementary School in Kissimmee. Then, in the afternoon, there were subject area make and take sessions. Teachers spent three hours creating hands-on activities to take back to school on Monday morning!

Annette Breaux, well-known author and motivational speaker, kicked off Saturday with the keynote address. During the day, participants attended subject area break out sessions, an awards luncheon, Vendor Marketplace and received terrific door prizes. It was a great day for all!

   
Students at Reedy Creek Elementary and Canoe Creek Charter Academy with their LeapFrog Quantum Pads

The Institute for School Innovation is partnering with LeapFrog SchoolHouse, a leading educational technology company, to combine several of their products with the CHILD model. Two pilot sites in Osceola County, Florida have used several of these technology-based products in selected classrooms this Spring. The teachers and students have been very pleased with the results.

For CHILD First Steps-Reading classrooms, ISI is developing reading Task Cards to use along with LeapFrog SchoolHouse activities for the Reading & Listening Station and for the Word Study Station. Task Cards will be available for the 2007-2008 school year.

For CHILD clusters, ISI is helping configure a cross-grade approach for the LeapTrack® personalized assessment system for reading, writing, and mathematics. “I am excited about the potential of this added benefit for our CHILD classrooms,” said Dr. Sally Butzin, ISI Executive Director. “Individualized assessment is always a challenge for any teacher, and the LeapTrack system helps CHILD teachers offer meaningful activities at the Textbook Station that are challenging and individualized.”

Stay tuned for more on this exciting project! Contact Libby Preble with LeapFrog SchoolHouse at 704-904-0402 or lpreble@leapfrog.com 

Go to www.leapfrogschoolhouse.com for information on LeapFrog products.  

Kay White, Principal of Reedy Creek Elementary in Osceola County, Florida, was named Administrator of the Year at the county’s Academy Awards. Mrs. White has been an advocate for CHILD since it first began in her county in 1999. She not only started implementation at her site, the first in Osceola County, but grew the model into impressive numbers including Second Language Learners (ESOL) and Special Education (ESE) CHILD cluster models, as well. She has been instrumental in helping with several county-wide CHILD technology- integration initiatives and is currently working with ISI on a pilot program with LeapFrog.  

Mrs. White leads by example, being an active member of the CHILD leadership team both in her district and at Institute functions. We applaud Mrs. White’s contribution to innovation in today’s school setting. She is truly an innovative leader and a CHILD star!

CHILD Summer Institute 
Wednesday & Thursday, June 20 & 21, 2007- Partin Settlement Elementary in Kissimmee, Florida. Go here for registration information.

CHILD Leadership Academy Cancelled
NOTE: The Leadership Academy scheduled for June 22 & 23 at the Saddlebrook Resort has been cancelled this year due to district calendar conflicts. ISI regrets this and apologizes for any inconvenience.