NQEC Challenges and Unifies

For the first time ASQ’s National Quality in Education Conference (November 16-18)—one of the largest quality in education conference’s in the world—offered a Quality in Education 101 orientation.  Meant to be fun as well as informative, the session was presented as a game show.  The event is notable in that more than 125 of the 500 attendees—from six countries—sat in on this session.

Attendees took the opportunity to suggest key issues for U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama to tackle during his term by completing a brief ASQ produced survey. ASQ is analyzing the surveys returned from more than 400 educators during and prior to NQEC and will send a letter to Obama’s office early in 2009. (The results will also be featured in a future ASQ Weekly issue)

Barbara Cleary was in town, not only to attend the conference, but to talk about her new book, Claire Anne and the Talking Hat.  Cleary appeared on the KRNV TV (NBC affiliate) morning show on November 17 to talk about the book and later that morning appeared at Caughlin Ranch Elementary School.  Cleary was met by more than 250 K-3rd grade students eager to hear her read Claire Anne and the Talking Hat. 

Getting students involved in the conference is a long-standing aim of NQEC.  This year, students from Proctor R. Hug High School served as session monitors as well as provided opening session entertainment.  The JROTC and Camille Betton displayed their talents, performing the U.S. National Anthem.

The 2nd Annual Education Team Excellence Awards were presented at the conference with the following teams receiving top honors:
Gold Award-Team Alliance, Alliance Business Academy, Bangalore, India
Silver Award-Aid Action Team, Metro Technology Centers, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Bronze Award-Student Achievement Focus Team (SAFT), Hampton City Schools, Hampton, Virginia

The Team and Workplace Excellence Forum sponsored the awards and the Team Accomplishment Showcase. View project summaries.

Terry Holliday, superintendent of Iredell-Statesville Schools, gave an insightful and engaging keynote address stressing, “you can’t improve instruction if you don’t have the data you need when you need it.”  On November 25, Iredell-Statesville Schools was awarded a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. (Read Holliday’s ASQ blog)

NQEC was made possible in part through a sponsorship from Follett Software, developer of the TetraData Software.