As Fresno State continues to join a Central Valley-wide effort to address achievement gaps in the region, the University will host the annual Exemplary Practices in Educational Leadership Conference, featuring inspirational speaker and bestselling author Dr. Pedro Noguera.

At 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18, Noguera will give a keynote address at the conference that runs until 3 p.m. at the Clovis Veterans Memorial District Building (808 4th St.). The conference provides an opportunity for educational leaders to learn and share from one another. It allows school districts to showcase their work by highlighting how they’re focusing their efforts towards one shared goal — improving learning outcomes for students.

“The purpose of the annual Exemplary Practices in Educational Leadership Conference is to bring Central Valley educational leaders together — superintendents, district leaders, principals and teacher leaders —  from across the Central Valley to learn from experts in the field and share best practices in order to close our historic achievement gaps and raise the achievement of all students,” said Dr. Mabel Franks, program coordinator for the John D. Welty Center for Educational Policy and Leadership at Fresno State.

Noguera, an education professor at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, has appeared as a regular commentator on educational issues on many national news outlets, including CNN, MSNBC and NPR. He has traveled throughout the United States sharing his research on how social and economic conditions influence schools. He has also received multiple awards for his research and advocacy on fighting poverty.

Noguera’s messages resonate with many educational leaders who strive to create quality opportunities where all students are able to meet or exceed learning expectations and become college ready.

The conference will include breakfast (beginning at 7:30 a.m.) and lunch along with 16 breakout sessions highlighting innovative leadership practices throughout Central California.

Registration is $225 and will be open online through Oct. 18.

For more information and to register, visit www.fresnostate.edu/weltycenter.