Our panel included moderator Dora Taylor (PAA-Puget Sound) and (from left to right below) Mary Battenfeld (QUEST- Boston), PAA Board of Directors member Zerlina Smith (PAA-Chicago), Khem Irby, PAA president and founder of PAA-Greensboro (NC) and The Mothers' Agenda (NYC), and PAA interim director Julie Woestehoff providing tech support.

Mary Battenfeld_ Zerlina Smith_ Khem Irby_ Julie Woestehoff

By sharing stories and strategies, we encouraged parents and others to keep fighting, and to model the ways we learn from each other and are able to put that knowledge to work.

We also broke into small groups for discussion led by our panelists and PAA leaders Deb Mayer (PAA-Oregon) and Steven Norton (Michigan Parents for Schools).

You can view the power point presentation from this session here.

You can view the power point from the FairTest-led session on assessment alternatives, with Julie Woestehoff, here.  

Several sessions are also available to view on NPE's Facebook page .

Successful screening of "Backpack"

Some conference attendees were also able to go to a screening Thursday evening of the Matt Damon-produced documentary "Backpack Full of Cash," which exposes the attack on public education by privatization forces. Leader of PAA-Bay Area Eileen Brown organized the screening and moderated the event. She reported that some 200 people were there.

The  film features PAA founding members Helen Gym and Karran Harper-Royal. Both are highlighted on a special page on the film's web site. Reviews of the film were rave!

Screenings cost a reported $650. PAA is working on funding sources to help cover that cost. You can contact the production team for more information about bringing a screening to your area, and see a schedule of upcoming showings around the US here.