Summer Institute

2012 Conference Registration and Information

Please join us for the 2012 Summer Institute Conference August 15, 16, & 17 at the St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center (Civic Center). This year marks the 7th annual statewide ABE conference sponsored by Literacy Action Network (LAN) and Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA). The theme, Mission Possible: Operation Excellence, was chosen to emphasize the idea that recent growth and innovation in our field has put ABE in a great position to renew our focus on high-quality, results-oriented, and professional service to adult learners. We hope this conference will provide you with ideas, tools and resources to start your program year with new energy and enthusiasm for your mission in furthering the mission of ABE.

Our keynote speaker this year is Dr. Bruce Miles, owner and CEO of the Big River Group in St. Cloud. In his talk, “The Art of Influence,” he will share strategies that ABE professionals at all levels can use to influence others and in turn, improve student outcomes and increase school effectiveness.

Also this year, we will have a chance to say goodbye to State ABE Director Dr. Barry Shaffer, who is retiring after 21 years of service to our field and 34 years at the Department of Education. He will give his final Minnesota ABE Update on Thursday morning. Join us in honoring Barry for his many years of excellent service to the field.

---Cathy Grady and Abbey Lang, Conference Co-chairs