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2010 Events

Waiting for Superman Panel Discussion

If you've seen the movie "Waiting for Superman," you probably have an opinion about how to best solve the problems faced by our students. The purpose of the forum was to allow for a public discussion from different perspectives on what the movie purports to say and whether that point of view is warranted. Although Silicon Valley Education Foundation does not take a position when we present forums, we were interested in looking at the complex issues raised in the movie. Are teachers' unions the problem? Are charter schools the solution?

On December 14, 2010, over 100 educators, policymakers, community, and business leaders from around Silicon Valley gathered at University of Santa Cruz Extension in San Jose to listen to a panel of experts including John Danner, Co-Founder and CEO, Rocketship Education, Ash Pirayou, Partner, Rutan & Tucker, LLP, Diane Tavenner, Founder & CEO, Summit Public Schools, Dean Vogel, VP, California Teacher's Association, and Dr. Charles Weis, Superintendent of Schools, Santa Clara County.

The panel's opinions ranged from support for the movie's theme that education in America is broken, to the film "missed the point." Some said it overly simplified what is a very complex issue. Others said it showed compelling reasons why the public school system is declining and that charter schools are a big part of the answer to turning that around. In the end, all agreed that filmmaker Davis Guggenheim raised the level of debate about education in America.

Moderator

Muhammed Chaudhry, President & CEO, Silicon Valley Education Foundation

Panelists

John Danner, Co-Founder & CEO, Rocketship Education
Jim Lianides, Superintendent, Sequoia High School District
Ash Pirayou, Partner, Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Diane Tavenner, Founder & CEO, Summit Public Schools
Dean Vogel, Vice President, California Teacher's Association
Dr. Charles Weis, Superintendent of Schools, Santa Clara County

Date & Time

December 14, 2010
4:00pm - 4:30pm (Registration)
4:30pm - 6:00pm (Discussion)

Location

UCSC Extension in Silicon Valley
2505 Augustine Drive, Suite 100
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Maps and Directions

Feel free to park anywhere there is an available space.

Airdates for Channel 28

This event was taped by CreaTV. Residents of San Jose and Campbell can watch it on the dates and times listed below or you can watch it at anytime by clicking on the TV icon below.

January weekdays @ 8:30am, 1:30pm & 8:30pm
January weekends @ 11:30am, 4:00pm & 10:30pm

Watch Video

Information

Contact Rigo Magaña at (408) 790-9591 or rigo@svefoundation.org for more information.

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