(NAME-MCE) Association of Mexican American Educators October 17-18, 2008

[Anselmo Villanueva]

Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE)

AMAE State Conference   October 17-18, 2008
Place: USC Radisson Los Angeles
3540 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90007
Register at: http://www.amae-events.com/

The Early Registration Period has been extended for the 2008 State
AMAE Conference until Wednesday, October 8, 2008. Go to the on-line
registration site www.amae-events.com

Professional Development Units for the 2008 AMAE State Conference
"Take Back Our Future" are available. Ms. Sandy Fuerte, the instructor
of record, will write the syllabus and take care of collecting course
work and assignments. The cost for participants is $59.00 per unit.
Please contact her if you are interested.

Sandy Fuerte
Professional Development Coordinator
Center for Professional Development
Fresno Pacific University
1717 S. Chestnut Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
direct/559.453.2259
cell/559.408.8215
fax/559.453.2006
sandy.fuerte at fresno.edu

Dear Colleagues:

The aim of the AMAE State Conference TAKING BACK OUR FUTURE: Academic
Achievement Strategies for Latino EL and SEL Students, (Friday,
October 17, 2008 and Saturday, October 18, 2008 at the USC Radisson
Los Angeles) is to convene local, statewide, and nationally renowned
researchers, teacher practitioners and community stakeholders to
establish a shared baseline of understanding relating appropriate
pedagogy to raise the academic achievement of Latino English Language
(EL) and Standard English Language (SEL) students.

The overarching goal of the AMAE Conference is to reignite our
commitment to all EL and SEL students by:

Arriving at a common understanding of current EL and SEL research and
exemplary practices;

-- Identifying strategies to accelerate language acquisition and
academic achievement of EL and SEL students;
-- Promote the urgency to improve the academic achievement, graduation
rates, and college going rates of Latino students.

Please plan to attend this very important event that offers an
opportunity to engage in critical dialogue with colleagues from
schools throughout California.We are confident that this year's
conference will be a historic event that reinvigorates our focus and
efforts on behalf of EL and SEL students in our schools.

To register, visit http://www.amae-events.com/

AMAE Inc.
1630 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA  93721
info at amae.org
559.266.2623
http://www.amae.org/

The Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE) was born in
conflict with existing school systems and mode of instruction. The
early efforts were directed at countering the inequality of
educational opportunity for Mexican American/Latino students. In the
Association's Articles of Incorporation of 1965, it states that the
AMAE educators were organized to address the problems facing Mexican
American/Latino students in educational systems. These efforts were
directed toward the elimination of English only rules, toward
scholarships to encourage students to continue their education and
toward a drive to attract more Chicanos/Latinos to education and into
positions of leadership and influence.

>From its early beginnings in Los Angeles to chapters in Fresno,
Sacramento, Madera, San Diego, and rapidly expanding throughout
California, AMAE has grown over the past thirty-seven years, through
periods of activity and periods of reflection, to include as many as
40 chapters.

An important project of the Association is the annual staff
development conference that brings together educators and concerned
parties to address the critical issues facing students and
professionals. These issues include the development of methodologies
and materials to address the educational needs of Latino and limited
English proficiency students, the recruitment of Latino teachers, and
the professional advancement of Latino educators.

In 1982, AMAE initiated "The Day of the Teacher," an annual event
which serves to recognize the contributions of educators to California
and the nation. In that same year, the Association established the
Chicano/Latino Youth Leadership Conference, now held annually on the
campus of California State University, Sacramento. The conference has
as its purpose to encourage young people to assume leadership
positions in their schools and communities as well as, to raise their
career aspirations.

In addition, the organization has served as an advocate for the
interests of the Chicano/Latino community. In 1987, AMAE was a
plaintiff in a suit against the Los Angeles Unified School District
requiring it to provide English language classes on a demand basis to
all limited English speaking adults.

Today, AMAE has earned respect and recognition in educational circles
and has the ability to influence and change the history of educational
neglect in Latino communities. The Association is involved all aspects
of education: from migrant to gifted education, from bilingual
education to foreign language instruction, from administration to
legislation and from community to political issues, which bear upon
the education of Latino communities.

AMAE prides itself on being an inclusive, rather than an exclusive,
professional organization. Membership is open to all who subscribe to
its goal of serving Latino students and educators. State and local
chapter officers have included Latinos and non-Latinos from
backgrounds other than Mexican. Faculty, administrators, counselors,
librarians, paraprofessionals and students, are all invited to become
members of the AMAE network.

AMAE Goals

-- To improve education for students of Mexican and Latino decent - To
work toward preparing teachers who understand and appreciate the
social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of students and who bring
out their strengths and develop their potential. To initiate programs
and recommend improvements which will promote opportunities for these
students. To bring expertise to bear on the problems of the
underachieving students and the drop-out rate. To dramatically
increase the percentage of Latino students who finish college.

-- To advise State and local Boards, Administrators and Faculties - To
apply special expertise in meeting the educational problems of Latino
communities. To influence educational policy and direction at all
levels. To testify on legislation, and, when prudent and necessary, to
join in lawsuits. To network with other educational and Latino
organizations in areas of mutual concerns.

-- To provide training and support for Latino Educators - To sponsor
workshops and conferences in areas of educational interest. To develop
an awareness of opportunities and to encourage leadership among
Chicano/Latino educators.

-- To promote understanding and recognition of cultural differences -
To bring to students the traditions, the language, and the sensitivity
of Mexican and Latino cultures. To interpret to the Latino community
the functions and the role of the school, and of the community to the
schools. To promote better understanding among the citizenry
concerning the educational needs of students of Mexican and Latino
backgrounds.