Home■ Houston, Here I Come

Houston, Here I Come

Submitted by NAESP Principal... on Wed, 2010-04-07 04:10

Melissa “Missie” Patschke, principal of Upper Providence Elementary School in Royersford, Pennsylvania, begins her convention coverage:
Happy spring to all my fellow NAESP colleagues!
I am eager to share my thoughts with everyone by serving as NAESP’s blogger for the 89th annual convention. As an elementary school principal for 14 years in southeastern Pennsylvania, I always look forward to the NAESP conventions. There are times on the job when I am confident and secure, and there certainly are still times when I feel that I have much to learn. NAESP conventions are the perfect place to do just that—learn. This year, I look forward to gathering new ideas, meeting new people, and exploring the city of Houston.
My goal as your convention blogger is to capture a few highlights of the experience through my own lens and share them with you. After reviewing the agenda, it’s clear that there are some truly great speakers and sessions to attend. Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Bring business cards and preprinted address labels to share with colleagues and vendors. You’ll find many opportunities to use these cards and stickers.
  2. Read through all of the convention materials that you are given when you check in with NAESP. Highlight every session that interests you and find out where it is held.
  3. Be friendly and initiate conversations with fellow attendees. Whether you chat with other principals in the hotel, stay after a session to exchange ideas, or have dinner with a colleague, it’s all worth your time!

Friday morning, I know I want to hear Chris Gardner’s message at 10 a.m. His book, Start Where You Are was a great read! The text highlights many lessons learned from a lifetime of joys and struggles. After hearing Gardner, I’m heading to the exhibit hall to meet some of the vendors and see what new ideas I can find to support my school. I’m also curious about the NAESP Foundation’s silent auction. I definitely plan to check it out.  
I look forward to sharing more with you as the convention unfolds!
—Missie
#naesp2010

re: Houston, Here I Come

Submitted by Dave Sherman (not verified) on Thu, 2010-04-08 05:39.

Thanks for posting about the NAESP convention. I am in Houston for the convention, too. I hope it is valuable for me as a principal. I look forward to reading your posts from Houston.