For Immediate Release

ASQ Invites Education Leaders to Summit
Superintendents to Prepare Schools to Challenge 21st Century Students

Milwaukee, Wis., April 15, 2008—It’s no secret that the old formulas for teaching math, science, reading and writing need to be updated with improved curriculum focused on project management, communication and problem-solving skills.  With that in mind, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) invites superintendents to explore tomorrow’s challenges at an Education Leadership Summit for Superintendents, Thursday, June 19 – Friday, June 20, 2008, at the luxurious Hotel Santa Fe (named one of the 500 greatest hotels in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

A welcome reception opens the conference Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m.  Morning sessions begin with a keynote address, followed by small-group roundtables, networking and Leadership Toolbox Sessions where specific tools are used to explore issues and opportunities identified by summit attendees as being most relevant to them.  A new feature is District Dialogue where superintendents can host strategic conversations on their organization’s major questions.  In this session the group will explore those best practices that speak directly to the challenges they face.  Summit keynote speakers include: 

• Anne Barab – The Resilience Expert and former school board member and professional speaker.  Visionary education leaders realize that standardized testing creates a fundamental shift in focus from how educators teach to how well the students learn. Barab explores what it would take to achieve passing rates of 90% or higher for all students. She also offers insight on how to create a culture of extraordinary learning in your classrooms, your district, and your community.
• Terry Holliday – Superintendent of Iredell-Statesville School District.  Holliday will provide a firsthand account of the successes and challenges of one school district’s quality journey. In his address, Holliday describes how Baldrige can be leveraged to address 21st century issues and help districts ask the right questions that best help them address 21st century needs.

Roundtable discussion topics will be linked directly to the keynotes.  They will include:

• Interactive dialogue around the keynote presentations
• Hands-on exercises linked to the topics

“Whether you are a novice or experienced in the area of continuous improvement, this summit provides a deeper understanding of a systems approach to leadership,” said Mark Keen, superintendent of Westfield Washington Schools in Westfield, Indiana. “It also enables you to build a network with other education leaders who are refocusing their mission to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

This event offers a rare opportunity to network with peers in an intimate roundtable event filled with high-impact ideas, as well as to enjoy some socializing and fun in the sun.  For more information on the Education Leadership Summit for Superintendents, visit or contact ASQ Education Market Manager Anne Groh at 800-248-1946, x7559.  

The American Society for Quality www.asq.org is the world's leading authority on quality.  With more than 93,000 individual and organizational members, the professional association advances learning, quality improvement and knowledge exchange to improve business results, and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide.  As champion of the quality movement, ASQ offers technologies, concepts, tools and training to quality professionals, quality practitioners and everyday consumers, encouraging all to Make Good Great®.  ASQ has been the sole administrator of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award since 1991.  Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., the 60-year-old organization is a founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a prominent quarterly economic indicator, and also produces the Quarterly Quality Report.