01/12/12 jgm

HAYS, Kan. -- "World Ready for the Faces of Tomorrow" is the theme for Diverse Classrooms of the 21st Century: English for Speakers of Other Languages Conference on Monday, Jan. 30. This conference was made possible through a Kansas Board of Regents grant awarded to the Fort Hays State University Department of Teacher Education.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center followed by the welcoming address and the keynote speaker.

Dr. Crystal Kuykendall, president of Kreative and Innovative Resources for Kids Inc. (KIRK), is the keynote speaker and will address strategies for reclaiming black and Latino students.

Founded in 1989 by Kuykendall, KIRK produces audio and video tapes, publications, workbooks and learning tools as well as Merchant of Hope© productsfor educators, counselors, administrators and parents. A Merchant of Hope is an individual who has risen to the challenge to make a positive difference in the life of another by planting "hope" and self-belief.

Following the keynote speaker, lunch will be provided by Chartwells. The afternoon consists of a variety of breakout sessions located in the Memorial Union as the FHSU Department of Teacher Education strives to help diverse classrooms be world ready for the faces of tomorrow.

The registration fee is $20 per person, which includes the cost of lunch. Free parking is available on the west side of the Memorial Union. Lunch tickets are available at the registration table the day of the event.

For more information or to register, visit the Department of Teacher Education website at www.fhsu.edu/te or call 785-628-4204 or email bwilkens@fhsu.edu.