Nation’s educators gather for LV meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 | 9:31 a.m.

Educators from across the country will gather in Las Vegas Wednesday to share strategies for teaching students in some of the nation's largest urban school districts.

Nearly 1,000 superintendents, school board members and administrators are expected for the 48th annual Council of Great City Schools conference, which runs through Sunday.

Conference workshop topics include overcoming achievement gaps, professional development, bilingual education and school leadership.

This is the first time Clark County has hosted the conference. Clark County Superintendent Carlos Garcia is immediate past chairman of the council, which is made up of 64 urban districts.

With more than 280,000 students, Clark County is the nation's fifth-largest school district.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for educators to see the best practices of urban school districts, many of which are experiencing the same challenges we are here in Clark County," said Joyce Haldeman, executive director of community and government relations for the Clark County School District.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Garcia are both slated to take part in a town hall meeting Friday to discuss the importance of a cooperative relationship between urban school superintendents and mayors.