Conference Objectives

1. To present strength-based strategies, protocols, and examples that can be applied to the classroom, school and school district
2. To explain the Positive Deviance Approach and its application to reducing high school dropouts
3. To describe in detail the CTA IFT Grant to reduce high school dropouts, including the application process, participating high school responsibilities and the support provided by the CTA IFT Grant.
4. To lean about the evidence that describe what specific cultural factors have been found to drive progressive, successful societies and countries and to show how these factors can be utilized in the public schools.
5. To find out how Appreciative Inquiry can be applied to the teaching and learning process.
6. To engage with other school community stakeholders about what actions can be taken to increase strength-based thinking in the educational community.