APNC 2005 Testimonials
Dalissa Brandenburg
Director of AP/IB Initiatives for the State of Texas
D.B.: This was my first AP Annual Conference, and I plan to attend again next year because the networking that I was able to have with other colleagues from a variety of states has been invaluable. It was very nice and helpful to be able to talk with state department people and get their perspective. And of course it's always interesting to talk with the teachers of other states. There was wonderful time built in for collaboration among states.
At the beginning of the conference, we actually tacked on a U.S. Department of Education meeting for those of us who manage AP, incentive, and testing grants, which was very helpful. Our USDE representative offered us the opportunity to spend a whole day meeting with USDE, which was really terrific. Not only were we able to conduct the annual meeting there, but it allowed the director of AP operations, Sue Landers, to come in and speak to everybody about some of the physical ways—physical operations and data collaboration—that the College Board could provide for us. Some of the speakers from the conference were able to come in and meet with us. It really set forth a very supportive and collaborative atmosphere between both the Department of Education and the College Board. That was a very nice way to start everything off.
There were a number of informative sessions for teachers and administrators—so much to choose at any given time, such a wide variety of opportunities there—that it was just terrific. During lunch, we could sit with workmates or meet new people. This was always wonderful. And I have to say that the plenary sessions were great as well. We had absolutely top-notch motivational speakers. What struck me most about the speakers was the level of passion for reaching each individual student. It's really wonderful that the same message seems to emerge through each session: that we've got to fight for these kids. We're in a battle for them, and we've got to get a message out there to them that it's not all about money, that's not what education is about. And so that was very striking to me, and that came out in several of the speeches.
One of the best things that happened is that I was able to meet with Ayeola Boothe Kinlaw, director of the College Board's K-12 Access and Equity Initiatives. She and I had emailed a little bit because I'm very interested in pursuing the differentiation in AP course work. We've been doing that here in Texas for a while, and we feel very strongly about it. And I know that she's doing some pilot program through her equity initiative. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to sit down and talk about what's happening here, what's happening across the country, and how we might not reinvent the wheel but rather utilize materials we've already developed for the good of everybody.
AP: So did our conference and our workshop meet your expectations?
D.B.: Exceeded it, absolutely exceeded it. The supportiveness and willingness to listen to and collaborate on the part of College Board—I have just felt like all of the individuals and all of the departments are actually listening to the field and taking to heart the things that are needed and trying to implement those changes.
AP: Would you recommend this to your colleagues? Which colleagues?
D.B.: There was stuff for everybody. I think it would be so important for the curriculum people to attend this conference. I think that funds could be utilized so wisely for a department head of a particular curriculum area to go and learn about the changes and come back and share them. Many of them did not get to go, but their attendance would have been great since members of the Development Committees were there, and meeting with the exam-writing committees was wonderful. There is so much available for administrators and program personnel that would be totally invaluable.
AP: Did you attend the dinner for the fiftieth anniversary of the AP Program?
D.B.: The evening at the museum was wonderful. They had a geology exhibit, and I had so much fun playing in the rocks. I got to play in the museum, and that was wonderful. Some of the science people got in there and had a lot of fun.
AP: Is there anything else that you wish could have been at the conference that wasn't there this year?
D.B.: It had something for everybody. I don't know what I would add to it. It was just terrific. I can't think what else—can't think of anything else I would have added to it.
