2020 Partners in Education (PIE) Conference Highlights
After a year of planning, in late January 2020, the UTK CLEE Event Team executed the Tennessee Department of Education’s (TDOE) 2020 Partners in Education (PIE) Conference. The conference was held at the Music City Center in Downtown Nashville, TN.
At this annual conference, special education and general education teachers and administrators from across Tennessee gather to learn and highlight evidence-based best practices to ensure all students are prepared for postsecondary education, employment, and independent living. The UTK CLEE Event Team was honored to received public recognition for our efforts from TDOE event hosts, Allison Davey and Joann Runion, with the Whole Child Initiative (see image below).
From a planning standpoint, major accomplishments/successes from the 2020 PIE Conference include:
- a record number of registrants and attendees,
- a significant increase in program income,
- a streamlined check-in procedure resulting in decreased in check-in wait times, and
- an increased mobile app adoption rate and attendee and funder satisfaction.
For the second consecutive year, the PIE Conference had a record number of registrants (2545) and attendees (2350). With this increase and a small change to the registration timeline, the Event Team was able to increase event income by more than $50,000 without raising registration fees. The conference also had 78 exhibitors and 16 sponsors, which generated nearly $10,000 more income than past conferences.
Despite the increase in registrants, the 2020 PIE Conference attendees experienced shorter wait times at the onsite conference check-in. As part of CLEE’s commitment to continuous improvement and customer service, a revision to our attendee check-in processes streamlined the experience for all attendees.
The 2020 PIE Conference marked the first time the conference did not have a printed program. All conference related information and materials were moved to an online mobile app. More than 90% of attendees actively viewed session schedules, completed session surveys, and interacted with fellow attendees in the mobile app. This is the highest adoption rate we have seen at the PIE Conference.
While the Event Team is pleased with these accomplishments, they would be completely meaningless if the attendees and funder were not satisfied with the conference experience. Other than feedback on meals, all questions on the overall post-event attendee survey were rated above 90% for very satisfied or satisfied. Onsite, the Event Team received multiple compliments from the funder, and public shout-outs on Twitter as shown above.
Overall, the 2020 Partners in Education Conference has been viewed as a successful conference by the attendees, the funder, and ourselves. While these are things we should definitely be proud of, the UTK CLEE Event Team takes the most pride in being considered a long-time partner of the Tennessee Department of Education.
We are also thrilled to announce that this partnership will continue. While onsite at the 2020 PIE Conference, TDOE asked us to begin planning the 2021 PIE Conference. We are all very excited about planning another Partners in Education Conference for the Tennessee Department of Education.
LINCS & CLEE at COABE in Dallas
CLEE Staff from the southeastern LINCS Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC II) will be presenting at the annual COABE conference in Dallas, TX. Held April 10 – 16th, this conference is one of many activities by the national Commission on Adult Basic Education designed to advance national and international adult education and literacy opportunities for all persons.
RPDC II presentations at COABE:
- Monday, April 11, 3:45–5:00
Creating Effective Learning Environments
by Gail Cope - Tuesday, April 12, 9:30-10:45
Critical Thinking and Numeracy in Social Media
by Aaron Kohring and Duren Thompson
More COABE session information:
- The full list of LINCs presentations
- ALL COABE presentations
- Download the COABE app for up to the minute session info!
Nashville CapABILITY Career Expo May 20, 2015
As part of the Expo Planning Committee, CLEE is proud to announce the following event:
Have you Heard? Have you passed the word to Jobseekers with Disabilities in the Greater Nashville Metropolitan Area?
On May 20th – a great opportunity at the Career CapAbility Expo for Jobseekers of all levels of Abilities to meet with Companies who are EAGER to HIRE.
Expo runs from 3pm-7:30pm at the Nashville Airport Marriot
See Event Flyer for details
Jobseekers Register here: http://j.mp/1CpNoGM
TO PREPARE:
JOBSEEKERS – Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will provide their Career Coach from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. that day (attendees may use their services to prepare for the Expo). The Career Coach provides Internet access for research or online applications, help with resumes, printing, and interview practice. A list of companies attending the Expo is available here: http://www.tennesseeworks.org/2015/04/capability-career-expo/
EMPLOYERS – You are invited to a Diversity and Inclusion Lunch and Learn at the Nashville Airport Marriot 11:30 am -1:00 pm. For more information visit: http://mtshrm.org/meetinginfo.php?id=171 . Sponsored by the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management.
Please share this opportunity widely via social media (link to CLEE Facebook) and encourage everyone to register and attend.
RSVP Now for October Disability Awareness Events in East TN!
In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, East Tennessee organizations sponsor three events with internationally acclaimed public speaker and New York Times Bestselling author, Michael Hingson.
Michael Hingson uses his personal stories and experiences escaping from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 as the backdrop for his talks on the life lessons learned growing up in a world different from what most of us experience. Michael, blind since birth, led co-workers from the 78th floor of the WTC building with the help of his guide dog Roselle.
We invite you to join CLEE staff and this inspirational speaker at one of these three events promoting the benefits of employing people with disabilities:
October 29, 8:00 – 10:30am – disABILITY Forum (7:30am continental breakfast)
Location: Toy F. Reid Employee Center, 400 So. Wilcox Dr. Kingsport, TN
RSVP to Teresa Smith by October 24: (423) 434-6989 or teresas@utk.edu
Hosted by the Northeast TN Diversity in Employment Consortium and Eastman Chemical Co. No registration fee required.
October 29, 2:30 – 4pm – Disability Forum (Refreshments to follow)
Location: Walters State Community College, International Lyceum, Morristown, TN
RSVP to Teresa Smith by October 24: (423) 434-6989 or teresas@utk.edu
Hosted by the Northeast TN Diversity in Employment Consortium and Walters State Community College. No registration fee required.
October 30, 8:00 – 10:00am – Disability Employment Awareness Breakfast
Location: Crowne Plaza, 401 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN
Register by October 25: Online or via emailed/faxed Registration Form
Hosted by the Knoxville Area Employment Consortium.
Michael Hingson will be available for book signing after each event.
All three forums are presented in conjunction with Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Workforce Employer Outreach Committee meetings.
CLEE staff of the DRS Corporate Connections and DRS Regional Employment Consultants grant project are proud to support these and many other celebrations of disability employment awareness throughout Tennessee during October, 2013.
The center receives funding from the Tennessee Department of Human Services-Division of Rehabilitation Services.
“Your Future is Calling” says GED Testing Service
“By completing the GED® test, you can answer the call.
Complete the GED® test by the end of 2013, and then go on to college, a better job, the respect you deserve, and the accomplishment of earning your high school credential.”
A recent press release announces that the GED Testing Service™ (GEDTS™) has launched its 2002 Series Closeout Campaign: Your Future is Calling, alerting test-takers who need to finish the GED® test by the end of 2013.
The current version of the test—the 2002 Series GED® Test—will expire at the end of 2013, along with any incomplete test scores. Test-takers who pass some but not all of the 2002 Series GED® Test will have to start over.
GEDTS™ encourages everyone to join the 2002 Series Closeout Campaign and tell adult learners to finish the GED® test by the end of 2013. Based on research, GEDTS™ has compiled a Closeout Campaign message guide that focuses on being hopeful, positive, and future-oriented.
CLEE encourages everyone to take part in getting the word out!
“More than a million adults have started but not finished the current GED® test. As a nation, we cannot afford to let millions of working-aged adults miss this opportunity to complete and pass the GED® test, opening doors to college, training, and better jobs.”
Nicole Chestang, executive vice president of GED Testing Service™
Celebrate Employees with Disabilities in October!
“During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the indispensable contributions people with disabilities make in our economy and recommit to building a country where each of us can realize the full extent of our dreams.”
Barack Obama
By presidential proclamation, October 2012 is proclaimed as a month to, “…rededicate ourselves to bringing down barriers and raising up aspirations for all our people, regardless of disability, so we may share in a brighter future together.”
Supported by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), organizations across the country join in this month’s national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and to celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. ODEP provides a wealth of resources and ideas for those wishing to support this campaign – this month and throughout the year.
The Center for Literacy, Education and Employment is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Our Corporate Connections representatives, in conjunction with the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services, are organizing and supporting activities across the state, including:
- Disability Mentoring
- Awards and Recognition for employers and employees
- Community Awareness events
- Employer Outreach & Education presentations
For more information about NDEAM events and opportunitities in Tennessee, visit Tennessee Works or contact: Stephanie Cowherd scowherd@utk.edu
Save the Date: East TN Accessibility Event
We are happy to announce East Tennessee’s First Annual Accessibility Event, Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. This event is presented by the Construction Specifications Institute in partnership with the City of Knoxville.
Keynote Speaker: Mayor Madeline Rogero
COST: Product Show & Experiential Areas – FREE
HSW CEU Seminars – $20.00 (includes box lunch, rsvp by Sept 17th)
Event will showcase how to create access for both people with disabilities and seniors. This interactive show will demonstrate:
- How to design for accessibility
- The benefits of doing so, and
- Ease and affordability of providing accessibility when considered during the design phase.
You’ll hear straight from the experts in the design industry and from people who benefit from accessibility. Help us showcase state of the art solutions and provide opportunities to better understand what true access means.
Exhibitors welcome and Sponsorships available. For more information visit the event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EastTNAccessibility or contact Tina Jones at the UT Center for Literacy, Education and Employment.
Celebrate Adult Education and Family Literacy Week!
The Center for Literacy, Education and Employment, in partnership with the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL), invite you to celebrate National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, September 10-16, 2012.
Adult education and family literacy programs serve adult students who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, obtain a high school equivalence degree, and prepare for community college or vocational training. 
According to the latest national survey of adults, more than 93 million American adults have Basic or Below Basic literacy skills that limit their ability to advance at work and in education, help their children with school work, take care of their family’s health, and participate in their communities.
Family literacy programs serve parents and their young children, teaching basic skills, English as a Second Language, and parenting skills to adults while their children are provided high quality instruction. These programs are focused on breaking the cycles of low literacy, low education and poverty.
Individuals and organizations can celebrate National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week by sharing student success stories and profiles, as well as literacy facts to raise the awareness of the general population. Find more literacy facts and activity ideas at http://www.national-coalition-literacy.org/litfacts.html and www.ncladvocacy.org.
Adult Education Practitioners: LINCS has a new look!
The Center is has some exciting news to share for the Adult Education community from our Partner, LINCS:
“The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education is relaunching the national go-to resource for adult educators— The Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS). http://lincs.ed.gov
The new LINCS website features:
• A fresh, redesigned look
• Easy-to-use functionality and search tools
• A professional learning community with specific adult education topic area groups
• Additional quality professional development materials
These changes will enhance this landmark adult education online professional development resource. You have been our partner in this work for years, and we would like your help in disseminating the news about the redesigned site. Feel free to:
• Post this information on your website
• Include information on your newsletter
• Share the news with the network in your state
• Check out the redesigned site: http://lincs.ed.gov
We hope that you enjoy the redesigned website and new features. Stay connected with LINCS and help us spread the word about this important resource in the adult education community.”