The 5th Annual Ford PAS National Networking Conference was held June 18–21, 2007, at the Marriott in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Each year the annual Ford PAS Networking Conference brings together teachers, coordinators, and administrators as well as college, university, community, and business partners to share what they are learning, network with colleagues, meet Ford PAS students, and find out about new resources. This year’s conference highlights included the following:
Ford PAS National Networking Conference 2007 Sessions:
Conference Session Descriptions and Presentations
Find PowerPoint presentations and other files from the 5th Annual Ford PAS National Networking Conference below.
What is Ford PAS? Is it a program? Is it a curriculum? Is it a community effort to improve educational opportunities for our youth? Is it a partnership between businesses, institutions of higher learning, and schools? Actually, it's all of these—and more. This overview of Ford PAS will broaden your understanding of the program’s content areas and learning goals, and provide insight into the ideas about teaching and learning that informed its development. The presenters also describe the various Ford PAS partners, explain how the partners support the program, and preview the resources available to both partners and schools.
Panelist:
Cheryl Carrier – Director of 21st Century Education Programs 
Are you aware of the nuts and bolts of the Ford PAS program and the exciting new features of the Ford PAS Web site? In this session you will explore the print and Web curriculum materials and take a hands-on tour of key Web site features and resources.
Panelists:
Cora Landy – Ford PAS Technical Assistance Group: Newton, MA
Sonya Tung – Ford PAS Technical Assistance Group: Washington, DC
Three concurrent sessions focus on Ford PAS content themes. Each of these sessions includes (1) a hands-on activity from a relevant module led by a Ford PAS teacher; (2) a panel discussion with teachers who have used modules relevant to the theme; and (3) presentations of work by students who have experienced those modules. Content themes are as follows:
Building Foundations: Developing 21st Century Skills
Panelists:
Alice Furstenau – Highlands High School: San Antonio, TX
Gina Morrissey – Arizona State University: Phoenix, AZ
Scott Roark – Romulus Community High School: Romulus, MI
David Rodgers – Tolles Career and Technical Center: Plain City, OH
Justin Zych – Spring Ridge Academy: Spring Valley, AZ
Student Presenters:
Kelsey A. Brown – Highlands High School: San Antonio, TX
Liane L. Carrillo – Highlands High School: San Antonio, TX
Kyra G. Jones – Tuskegee University: Tuskegee, AL
Avolon V. Owens II – Advanced Technology Academy: Dearborn, MI
Panelists:
Janeece Docal – Bell Multicultural High School: Washington, DC
Donna Gilley – John Overton High School: Nashville, TN
Noelia Guajardo – PSJA School District: Pharr, TX
Carol Henley – Howard University: Washington, DC
Student Presenters:
Antwon Crutcher – John Overton High School: Nashville, TN
Basra Mohamed – John Overton High School: Nashville, TN
Mohamed Mroue – Michael Berry Career Center: Dearborn, MI [ Video ]
Brittany Thompson – University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, MI
Amy Weaver – Michael Berry Career Center: Dearborn, MI
Panelists:
Phyllis Baca – Santa Fe Community College: Santa Fe, NM
Kate Soderstrom – West Bloomfield High School: West Bloomfield, MI
Francis “Bud” Muylaert – West Bloomfield High School: West Bloomfield, MI
Student Presenters:
Nicole Adams – West Bloomfield High School: West Bloomfield, MI
Sierra Brewton – Advanced Technology Academy: Dearborn, MI
Christel A. Haygood – Tuskegee University: Tuskegee, AL
Brian Okron – West Bloomfield High School: West Bloomfield, MI
Are you wondering if the Ford PAS program can be used with middle school students? Are you looking for material with the same inquiry- and project-based approach to use in a middle school? During this session, you will hear from two middle schools that have implemented modules from Course 1, and you will have the opportunity to learn about the LULAC Ford PAS Science Corps program, which was developed by Ford PAS in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Panelists:
Sheila Hoetger and David Mitchell – Holmes Middle School: Livonia, MI
[Watch their presentation to the Integrated Problem-Solving Class on Module 1, Activity 3: Processes and Flowcharts.] (Windows Media Video)
Catherine Meyer – Kazen Middle School: San Antonio, TX 
Feliberto “Fil” Valdez, Jr. – LULAC National Educational Service Center: Washington, DC
This session explores the curricular changes needed to conquer difficulties associated with scheduling cohort-based programs. Presenters will identify practical strategies for dealing with common scheduling roadblocks during implementation of Ford PAS; these guidelines are also applicable to the management of other smaller learning community or career academy programs. Reports from schools that have shifted to student-driven schedules will provide examples of approaches that lead to success. These implementation models are appropriate for any high school schedule.
Panelists:
Sandra Mittelsteadt – Social Marketing Services: Bakersfield, CA
Mike Neubig – Capture Educational Consulting: Westerville, OH
During this session you will hear from a distinguished group of panelists representing experience at the national, state, and local levels of education. Find out how to connect your work in Ford PAS to the broader movement for high school redesign, and how to make a difference in your classroom, school, and community. Participants will focus on how to communicate and expand the Ford PAS vision both within your school and with external partners such as community and business leaders, district administrators, state and federal legislators, and education agency officials.
Panelists (Video):
Rick Delano – Social Marketing Services: Bridgehampton, NY
Kim McNulty – Coachella Valley Economic Partnership: Palm Springs, CA
Hans Meeder (Facilitator) – Meeder Consulting Group, LLC: Columbia, MD
Kathy Sommers – Ohio Department of Education – Columbus, OH
What makes Ford PAS communities, partners, and schools or program sites successful? What are the elements of a successful implementation, and what are the indicators of success? Each panelist will highlight key features of a successful implementation, including connections to existing high school redesign efforts and/or other initiatives; community-wide support for the program (among administrators, key university representatives, teachers, and other stakeholders); institutionalized ongoing professional development; and the promotion of Ford PAS community culture within entire schools.
Panelists:
Cynthia M. Andersen – Advanced Technology Academy: Dearborn, MI [w/ B. Hawthorne]
Kamilah Banks – Texas Southern University: Houston, TX
Barry Hawthorne – Advanced Technology Academy: Dearborn, MI
Gilbert Maldonado – University of Texas-Pan American: Edinburg, TX
Christina Salas – Region One Education Service Center: Edinburg, TX
Ernesto Villarreal – University of Texas-Pan American: Edinburg, TX
During this session you will hear from business representatives and experienced Ford PAS community members about the value of business involvement in education. Panelists and participants discuss ideas and develop action plans for their communities.
Panelists:
Donna Gilley – John Overton High School: Nashville, TN
Janice Hathaway – Michael Berry Career Center: Dearborn, MI
Jim Hinga – University of Michigan-Dearborn: Dearborn, MI
Kim McNulty – Coachella Valley Economic Partnership: Palm Springs, CA
The San Antonio Independent School District gave the San Antonio Ford PAS community approval and support for the use of Ford PAS Course 5 in district courses in economics. Ford PAS communities across the country are increasingly using the Ford PAS curriculum in thematic courses (courses comprising several Ford PAS modules building on a theme). This session includes (1) information on how to replicate this effort in your community; (2) a hands-on activity from a relevant module led by current Ford PAS teachers; and (3) a panel discussion.
Panelists:
Carol Folbre – Social Marketing Services: San Antonio, TX
Aleida Villarreal – Lanier High School: San Antonio, TX
Student Samples:
Gilda Wilkinson – Highlands High School: San Antonio, TX
Panelists:
Ilene Kantrov – Education Development Center: Newton, MA
Rebecca Lewis – Education Development Center: Newton, MA
Facilitators:
Donna Gilley – John Overton High School: TN
Gina Morrissey – Arizona State University: Phoenix, AZ
Heather Simpson – Michigan Technological University: Houghton, MI
NEW! Student Track Presentation
View the videos created for the 2007 National Networking Conference by student track participants here:
Read the press release: Students Travel to Kentucky to Produce Documentary Film
A project of EDC. Education Development Center, Inc., works closely with Ford Motor Company Fund
