ANAHEIM, Calif., June 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Parents, teachers, school leaders, and students will gather at the Anaheim Convention Center to address issues facing the nation's children, families, and schools during the 108th Annual National PTA Convention and Exhibition, June 26-28. Topics of discussion will include preventing childhood obesity; increasing the availability of after-school programs; and repairing or replacing the nation's deteriorating school buildings. More than 2,000 convention attendees will be
-- Sending a strong message to Capitol Hill --
Convention delegates will rally to alert Congress that our children's academic success hinges on building and improving our nation's schools. Currently, 14 million students attend schools that are in need of major repair or replacement. (The average U.S. public school building was built 42 years ago.) Attendees will also have an opportunity to register to vote!
-- Exploring education, parenting, and leadership issues --
More than 75 workshops will be offered on topics including working-parent and father involvement, teen sexual education, outreach to multicultural communities, school safety, and parent- school-community partnerships.
Welcoming special guest speakers and local performers
-- Tony Alessandra, Ph.D.-Keynote speaker, author of The Power of Listening, and co-founder of MentorU.
-- Charles Patrick Garcia-Former White House fellow, decorated military officer, author, and member of the Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.
-- Kathy Ireland-Businesswoman, designer, advocate for children, and the first National PTA Ambassador for Youth.
-- Henry Winkler-Award-winning producer, director, film and TV star, and founding member of both the Children's Action Network and United Friends of the Children.
-- Performances by students from area schools including Cypress High School, Esperanza High School, Estancia High School, Loara High School, Orange County High School of the Arts, and Oxford Academy.
-- Awarding achievement in the arts and parent involvement --
National PTA will honor four students as Outstanding Interpretation Award recipients for the 2003-2004 Reflections Program, which encourages students to experience and explore artistic expression. Of the more than 630,000 young artists that participated, this year's honorees are
-- Literature: Elisabeth Kristin Gilbert, 16, Seminole High School PTSA, Lake Mary, Fla.
-- Musical Composition: Sarah Elizabeth Gibson, 17, Centennial High School PTSA, Alpharetta, Ga.
-- Photography: Ryan C. Hora, 17, Booker T. Washington Magnet High School PTSA, Montgomery, Ala.
-- Visual Arts: Sarah Katharine Glaser, 14, Seward PTSA, Seward, Ark.
In addition, National PTA will honor nearly 500 schools nationwide for earning National PTA's Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification. National PTA will also recognize schools that have forged successful and ongoing partnerships with parents, families, educators, and community members to promote student achievement.
-- Showcasing the latest products and services --
More than 200 exhibit booths will display the latest resources and programs for parents, schools and communities. Featured convention exhibitors include Charity For You(tm), Kathryn Beich Inc., and Post-a Photo LLC
The 108th Annual National PTA Convention is sponsored by Association Insurance Management, Be Safe and Sound, Educational Internet, FamilyFun, Hefty, ING, Leap Frog, National Education Association, Office Depot, Wells Fargo Bank, Wild Planet Toys, and WILL Interactive.
To register as attending media or to schedule interviews, please contact Jenni Gaster Sopko or Laura Battle. For a detailed convention schedule, please visit http://www.pta.org/annualconvention.