Spotlight speakers 2006
The following educationalists are confirmed for this year's Learning Festival, and will be delivering Spotlight sessions over the two days:
Maggi Allan and May Sweeney
Maggi Allan is Chair of the Programme Board for A Curriculum for Excellence. She retired from her post as Executive Director of Education for South Lanarkshire Council in 2005, where she had been employed since 1995. Prior to going to South Lanarkshire, Maggi had worked for Central Regional Council for eight years where she held senior posts in the directorate, including that of Director of Education.
May Sweeney is the National Coordinator for A Curriculum for Excellence, based in Learning and Teaching Scotland. She has a leading role in the communications and engagement strategy for A Curriculum for Excellence and contributes to all aspects of the work of the national team. Seconded from Stirling Council, her most recent post was Headteacher of McLaren High School.
Seminar: A Curriculum for Excellence in Action on Wednesday 09:30.
Frank Pignatelli
Following a teaching career which included posts as principal teacher of modern languages and assistant headteacher (curriculum), Frank held various senior management positions before becoming Executive Director of Strathclyde’s Education Service where he had responsibility for over 2000 schools, colleges and centres, including 21 further education colleges and all adult, continuing and community education provision across the region.
In November 1999 Frank was appointed as the first chief executive of the Scottish University for Industry, known to the public as learndirect scotland.
Seminar: New Approaches to Engaging Learners on Wednesday 12:15.
Andreas Schleicher
Andreas Schleicher is Head of the Indicators and Analysis Division at the Directorate for Education in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The Directorate’s mission is to assist Member countries and partners in achieving high quality lifelong learning for all that contributes to personal development, sustainable economic growth and social cohesion. The role of the Indicators and Analysis Division is to measure the performance of education systems in meeting these goals. This includes an examination of the quality of learning outcomes, the policy levers and contextual factors that shape these outcomes, how education systems operate and evolve, and the broader individual and social returns that accrue to the human and financial resources invested in education.
Seminar: Benchmarking Scottish Education on Wednesday 13:15.
Hilda De Felice
Hilda De Felice is a director of Learning Unlimited. Hilda has around 30 years’ experience at all levels in Scottish secondary schools, latterly as headteacher of St Luke’s High School, East Renfrewshire - leading the school to achieve Investors in People status. Since becoming an educational consultant in 2001 she has worked with thousands of teachers and over 16,000 pupils. Hilda takes a ‘people-centred approach’ to learning and leadership. Of particular interest to Hilda is the motivation of young people and teachers alike, within a curriculum for excellence.
Seminar: Motivation Within a Curriculum for Excellence on Wednesday 16:00.
Norman Emerson
Norman Emerson has over 26 years’ experience in primary and secondary schools in Cumbernauld, Dundee and Glasgow. Norman has worked as a class and subject teacher and was principal teacher – support for learning before being appointed to the post of assistant head in a large Glasgow secondary school. In 2002, Norman was appointed to the post of Principal Education Officer to lead a team of development officers within Learning and Teaching Scotland in taking forward the Assessment is for Learning programme.
Seminar: Assessment is for Learning – more than 2 stars and a wish on Thursday 09:30.
Zoë van Zwanenberg
Zoë has been Chief Executive of Scottish Leadership Foundation, which is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation, since its creation in 2001. The Foundation works on the development of leadership capacity and capability across all of Scotland’s public services. Prior to that her work has been centred in HR and management leadership roles with a wide range of public service organisations. She has also been a chief executive and general manager and has led major change initiatives from mergers to downsizing, and from service re-design to the implementation of major new national policy initiatives.
Seminar: Inspiring Leadership on Thursday 10:30.
Bruno della Chiesa
Bruno is a senior analyst at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) . Bruno is the manager of the CERI project entitled: ‘Learning Sciences and Brain Research – A Focus on Research in Literacy, Mathematical Thought and Lifelong Learning’. He is also responsible for CERI’s Spanish-Speaking Seminars, in cooperation with the countries involved. Among his publications is: 'Understanding the Brain – Towards a New Learning Science', OECD (2002).
Seminar: Learning and the Brain on Thursday 12:45.
Brian Boyd
Brian Boyd, Professor of Education, University of Strathclyde is an educator of 36 years’ experience and a director of Tapestry, an organisation dedicated to promoting creativity in education. He is a frequent contributor to the educational debate and a challenging speaker. He is the author of two recent books in the Hodder Gibson Continuing Professional Development in Education series and was a member of the Ministerial Working Group which produced A Curriculum for Excellence.
Seminar: Unlocking Creativity: Teaching Creative Thinking and Learning on Thursday 13:45.