GVSU President Mark A. Murray kicked off the School of Education's annual Education Lecture Series on October 2. The series features four speakers addressing the topic Testing and Accountability in the Classroom.
As former state treasurer and education policy advisor to Gov. John Engler, Murray spearheaded implementation of the Michigan Merit Award for high school seniors continuing on to college, and directed the Michigan Education Assessment Program. He was also an appointed member of the Detroit Public School Board.
The lectures are held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Eberhard Center. They are free and open to the public; for more information, call (616) 895-3554. The schedule follows:
- Oct. 9: Gerald Bracey, nationally known policy analyst, researcher and author. Bracey separates public education myth from reality in lectures and writings. His books include The Truth About America's Public Schools: The Bracey Reports, 1991-1997, and Setting the Record Straight: Responses to Misconceptions About Public Education.
- Oct. 29: Tom Watkins, Michigan's superintendent of public instruction. Appointed by state Board of Education members in April, Watkins has announced that the state's accreditation system is flawed and needs to be rebuilt. Watkins' background includes key leadership positions in government and non-profit sectors.
- Oct. 30: Mara Sapon-Shevin, professor at Syracuse University in the Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Teacher Education Program. The program was the first in the U.S. to break barriers between general education and special education at the teacher preparation level.
