As another school year kicks off, the Columbus-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is once again celebrating teachers and school staff through the Educators are Essential program. But this year, the series of pep rallies is becoming a conference for educators across the county.
Katie Fenstermacher, former educator and director of programs and events for the chamber, said the program is adapting due to varying start dates for county schools this year. But it is also evolving because she doesn’t want anyone to walk away from the program empty-handed.
“We brainstormed on ways we could change up the program and still benefit the educators, and we came up with this conference,” Fenstermacher said. “We’ve gotten a lot of community support and it’s gotten a lot bigger than I hoped it would be, which is wonderful… as far as what we’re going to be able to offer.”
The inaugural Educators are Essential free conference is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Hogarth Dining Services at Mississippi University for Women. It will include door prizes, breakfast and lunch, a teacher resource fair and three free books provided by Friendly City Books for all attendees. One lucky grand prize winner will also receive a $500 classroom makeover, Fenstermacher said.
“We’re still going to be able to have those prizes and those ‘Oprah style’ moments,” Fenstermacher said. “We probably have more prizes and things to give away this year than any year in the past. … This way, three or four people win a prize, but we’re also giving out resources that every teacher and every staff member can benefit from.”
The conference includes speakers on topics ranging from School Safety to Artificial Intelligence to Dyslexia in the Classroom. Keynote speaker Stephanie Duguid with Do Good Leadership will also present “What do I do with this pencil?” focused on supporting students who were isolated from the classroom during the pandemic.
There will also be a session conducted by Dr. Brad Beckham from Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle on the Stop the Bleed program, which will teach educators to use tourniquets and pack wounds until first responders can arrive to help.
Chamber Director Cathryn Borer said each educator who attends will receive a Stop the Bleed kit as well.
“The information these teachers are going to get is really valuable,” Borer said. “Then there are the prizes and the giveaways alone. Even if they just come in and eat their meals and get their tourniquet kit, I think it’s worth showing up for the day.”
Besides educational sessions, the conference will also include sessions on yoga, brain breaks for classrooms, enneagram types and other fun topics, Borer said.
Pre-registration for the conference is required, as the conference only has 300 spots available. However, Fenstermacher said spots will be prioritized for the Lowndes County area first.
For more information on the conference or to pre-register, you can visit clchamber.org.
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