(July 21, 2017) — The third annual Better Together: California Teachers Summit will be held Friday, July 28, at 35 locations around California, including Fresno State, and will feature former Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden as the keynote speaker.

With the theme “Now More Than Ever,” the free day of learning is open to all California educators with about 350 expected from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central California location in Fresno State’s North Gym, Room 118 at (5305 N. Campus Drive). See schedule at bit.ly/FS-TeachSumm17Sched.

Registration locally is nearing capacity with about five slots still available, said Anne Murphy of Fresno State’s Kremen School of Education and Human Development, at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/better-together-california-teachers-summit-at-fresno-state-tickets-33572079995.

Biden, wife of former United States Vice President Joe Biden, will speak at 8:15 a.m. at the headquarters site Saint Mary’s College, and her remarks will be simulcast to the other 34 sites across the state.

The Fresno State site will feature two local EdTalk speakers: Jack Kelly, principal of Phoenix Elementary School in Fresno, discussing “Instruction is the ‘Easy’ Part of Teaching” at 9 a.m. and Kendia Herrington, a chemistry teacher at Buchanan High School in Clovis, on “Next Generation Science Standards – A Shift in Thinking” at noon.

Biden is a lifelong educator who has taught at community colleges, a public high school and a psychiatric hospital for adolescents during her 30-year teaching career. As second lady, she worked to highlight the importance of community colleges to America’s future while continuing to teach as a full-time English professor at a community college in Northern Virginia. With the launch of the Biden Foundation this past February, Biden and her husband will continue their commitment to public education.

“Dr. Biden is an inspiration for all California teachers,” Murphy said. “We can’t wait to hear her insights from the classroom and her vision to better support all of our students. Dr. Biden has served as a role model for teachers across the country.”

This year’s theme reflects the importance of bringing teachers together to listen and learn from one another, Murphy said. Sessions will focus on timely topics ranging from Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Linked Learning, Common Core and Maker Ed.

“By bringing California teachers together, the summit will empower teachers to support our students, protect our values as educators and set an example for the nation,” she said.

The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the California State University and New Teacher Center are organizing the third annual summit that draws California pre-K-12 teachers, teacher candidates, school administrators and other educators.

For more information, visit www.cateacherssummit.com and follow @CATeacherSummit on Facebook and Twitter for updates or contact Murphy at 559.278.0256.