2024 Road to Teaching Conference
Hit the Road, Students!
Connecting you to your next destination on your educational journey.
Warkentine Culture and Arts Center
at Fresno Pacific University
4838 E. Butler Ave.
Fresno, CA 93727
October 19, 2024
Meet our Keynote Speaker!
Dr. Michelle Cantwell-Copher
Superintendent
Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Cantwell-Copher was raised in the Central Valley and has a deep appreciation for its unique cultural diversity, which she believes is one of Fresno County’s greatest strengths. She attended Fresno City College and Fresno State for her teaching degrees, ultimately earning a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of LaVerne. Over her career, she has opened new schools, achieved State Distinguished Schools recognitions, passed school bonds, assisted in district rapid growth, launched two educational foundations, led a movement to uplift the importance of early care and education, hosted a GradNation Summit, co-written the Central Valley Children’s Agenda and stewarded the Fresno Cradle 2 Career work. Those accomplishments are secondary to the privilege of teaching her students to read in the early years of her career as a classroom teacher.
Her mission as the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools is to provide leadership and cultivate engagement to unite all sectors in support of public education. Community partnerships and service to others are values that Dr. Cantwell-Copher upholds. She believes we must all be committed to the success of the “whole child,” starting with healthy families. Dr. Cantwell-Copher further believes that ensuring the health and safety of children is a community responsibility. She strives to ensure that each child feels valued and has access to equal opportunities to succeed in school, graduate and pursue college or a career.
She led FCSS’s successful expansion of business-education partnerships and collaborative work with nonprofit, community-based organizations and civic groups. Since 2019, Dr. Cantwell-Copher has contributed to the work of the Fresno DRIVE Community Investment Plan that focuses on economic growth, human capital and neighborhood development.
Dr. Cantwell-Copher is active in the community, serving on boards and volunteering at Valley Children’s Hospital. She was recognized as a Top 10 Business Woman of the Year in 2006. Dr. Cantwell-Copher is married to John, a Correctional Lieutenant with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, and together they have two children, Claire, a third-year law school student at McGeorge School of Law, and Quaid, serving at the United States Naval Academy.
2024 Road to Teaching Conference
The schedule is subject to change.
Activity | Time |
|---|---|
Check-in/Registration | Begins at 8:00 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast | 8:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m. |
Welcome & Keynote | 8:15 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. |
Breakout Session #1 | 9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. |
Breakout Session #2 | 10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. |
Breakout Session #3 | 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. |
Closing Remarks | 12: 00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
Vendor Fair/Lunch | 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
Breakout Session Descriptions
Please use the following to identify workshops.
🟢HS Student 🔷Community College Student
🟪4-year University Student 🟡Fresno State student
Breakout Session 1
Come hear the stories of Victoria and Angel – two first-generation college students who became roommates at Fresno Pacific twenty-five years ago. During the session, these Sunbirds will share reflections on their lived experience as first-gen students at a four-year university and how they followed their calling into teaching. Victoria McMillan is an elementary school teacher at Ayer Elementary School in Fresno Unified. Angel Krause is an Associate Professor of Education at FPU and a high school teacher at heart.
Presenter: Dr. Angel Krause and Victoria McMillan
Breakout Session 2
Fresno State offers multiple pathways to teaching that provides our students a cost-effective, high-quality experience that best meets their goals and needs. This session will provide you with an overview of the teacher education programs at Fresno State, and provides you with tips for what to consider on your journey to becoming a teacher. Join us to discover pathways to teaching at Fresno State!
Presenter: TBD
Breakout Session 3
Hear from a Fresno Unified School District representative about the benefits of becoming a teacher. From learning how the pay scale works, the health and retirement benefits, how teachers can earn extra income, and the built in time off from school holidays and breaks, as well as, the professional development opportunities that are available to their faculty
Presenter: TBD
Conference Presented by
In collaboration with
Thank you to our partners:
