Featured Panel - We're in the Race, but Are We Moving Fast Enough?
Atlanta Public Schools, and other metro-Atlanta districts, have made tremendous progress over the last decade resulting in improved test scores and a boost in graduation rates. It is clear that our students are on the path to progress and that our students can achieve. Despite these successes, Georgia continues to be ranked in the lowest 10% of all states in relation to education. In 2009, SAT scores fell for the third straight year leaving Georgia 47th in the union. Furthermore, the achievement gap appears to be widening with a 274-point difference in SAT scores between the average white student who wants to go to college and the average African-American student who wants to go to college. What are the issues that we continue to confront that are holding us back? What needs to be done to tear down the walls so that our students can achieve at nationally competitive levels?

Changes in the Charter Environment: What it Means for Students, Families, and Teachers
Charter law in Georgia has changed dramatically in the last few years. From the passage of House Bill 881 which provided for a State Commission on charter schools, to State Bill 90 which allows both inter- and intra-district vouchers for charter schools, our state is opening the door to new schools and increasing choice for parents and students. In this panel, we explored what these changes mean for our students, traditional schools, and aspiring school leaders.

Oil and Water: The Persistence of Segregation in Atlanta and What it Means for Our Children
In the 1990's, Atlanta began experiencing a second wave of gentrification. Higher-income families that had previously been living in the suburbs began moving back to the city to take advantage of shorter commutes, close-knit neighborhoods, and city amenities. As this population moved in, low-income communities began to be moved out. Within the last year, availability of government-supported housing, such as Bowen Homes, has greatly decreased, and schools serving these communities, such as Blalock Elementary and C.W. Hill Elementary, have closed their doors. Displaced families are offered vouchers for relocation but these are widely viewed as one-way tickets out of Atlanta. We discussed what this mobility in low-income communities means for the achievement gap. We explored the effects, both short- and long-term, on our students and their opportunities for the future.

So You Want to Make the Rules? Reasons to Consider Elected Office, Stories of Impact, and Tips for Deciding to Run or Serve
In this session, elected alumni and political leaders discussed the impact elected leaders can have, how they got to where they are now, and what it's like to run and serve. Attendees learned how to explore political office, decide whether the elected path is right, how to balance political interest and activity with personal and professional responsibilities, and how to take practical and incremental steps now that can help ensure readiness to run in the future - whether that is in ten years or ten months.

Learn more about the panelists for this session by visiting Leadership for Educational Equity, a Teach For America sister organization created to provide opportunities for you to connect with each other, find new about alumni in politics and policy, and to access resources and tools to effectively navigate the world of government, policy, and politics.

Big Ideas, Big Impact: The Power of Social Entrepreneurship
Metro-Atlanta schools require structural and systemic changes from within, but how can we also encourage businesses and nonprofits to demonstrate innovative solutions for our communities? Attendees explored the ins and outs of social entrepreneurship through the eyes of alumni leaders who have successfully launched organizations committed to social change. Panelists addressed the preparation and skills needed to launch a new venture, including how to secure funding.

Learn more about how Teach For America helps aspiring social entrepreneurs transform their ideas into innovative and effective social ventures by visiting http://www.tfanet.org/wps/myportal/careerleadership/social.

Classroom Culture and Achievement: How to Maintain High Academic Expectations While Making Classrooms Joyful
This workshop presented how to have a classroom where joy promotes achievement and rigor promotes joy. Participants observed footage of classrooms from some of the highest performing urban schools in the country and dissected the specific techniques being used to create both joy and rigor. The workshop exposed participants to strategies they can use in their own classrooms that will promote student achievement while also creating a positive classroom culture and high student investment.

Managing High-Performing Organizations
What commonalities exist in high performing organizations? Panelists will examine the key factors and major challenges in managing highly successful organizations viewed as great places to work with clear results. Attendees joined representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and hear these effective leaders discuss lessons they've learned, best practices, and advice they would give to others in or out of their sector.

Demystifying Diversity
Diversity issues are at the heart of what we do. During this session, attendees learned about the evolution of diversity efforts at Teach For America over the last 20 years. In particular, we explored the Diversity, Community, and Achievement curriculum that corps members participate in during institute. Attendees were able to witness the dramatic changes that have been made and sample some of the programming. Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback about diversity programming at Teach For America.

Rabble Rousers & Knowledge-Builders: Getting Involved in Policy and Advocacy
This discussion and networking opportunity was designed for alumni looking to start or advance a career in policy or advocacy, or wanting to ensure impactful volunteer advocacy. Our panel highlighted alumni on the path to policy leadership as advisors to elected officials, leaders in public agencies, key staffers in policy-related organizations, and leaders of grassroots organizations. Participants learned about the skills, experiences, and training necessary to enter government and policy making and advance toward positions of influence, as well as how to make a difference as volunteers.

Learn more about the panelists for this session by visiting Leadership for Educational Equity, a Teach For America sister organization created to provide opportunities for you to connect with each other, find new about alumni in politics and policy, and to access resources and tools to effectively navigate the world of government, policy, and politics.

Do What You Love: Identify Jobs that Fit Your Strengths
Attendees were invited to join this interactive workshop to engage in individual and group self-assessments to help learn more about themselves and about career possibilities that play to their strengths. Attendees left the session with concrete next steps to help them explore and identify the career paths and roles that fit them.

Learn more about the comprehensive career resources Teach For America offers alumni by visiting http://www.tfanet.org/clc.

Featured Panel - It Takes a Village: What Each of Us Must Do to Make a Difference for All of Us
We know that education and child welfare are critical to the success and sustainability of our community. We know that those issues extend into a plethora of personal and professional interests and pursuits, including politics and policy, social enterprise and social activism, law, business, and media. What is it that we must do as individuals to ensure that our children are getting the education and support that they need? What must we do as a unified body to advocate for our children?