August 31, 2010

Online registration for the 2011 LEA Convocation is now open! Click here

Please note:

1. The registration book, which contains all Convocation information, has a pdf link on the registration page. You will need it to make your Convocation selections if you register online. (You will also receive a hardcopy in the mail in the next few weeks.)

2. You must complete registration for the Convocation before reserving hotel rooms.

3. For registration and hotel assistance, call Meeting Services Unlimited at 317.713.1555 or email lea@conventionmanagers.com.

4. Hardcopy of the registration book, including the registration form, is in the mail. You may register with hardcopy by postal service or FAX if you do not wish to register online.

August 26, 2010

Convocation registration update

LEA staff is testing the online system now and hardcopy is at the distribution house. You'll see it soon. LEAnews will announce when it goes live. Online registration includes a copy of the registration book and registration forms for both program and hotels. (Hotel registration is available only after registration for the Convocation. Hardcopy registration books will get to you via postal service in September. (2010). Thanks for your patience.

August 16, 2010

Sectionals by strand

The numbers above do not take into account natural overlap of strands within each sectional. Presenters were required to indicate only one strand—the major strand—for each topic.

August 12, 2010

LEA on Facebook

With the advent of the Convocation, LEA’s page on Facebook is coming to life. Please visit and become a fan. If you have a Facebook account, your can search for LEA or Lutheran Education Association. You also can get there by clicking here. If it’s your first visit, please check the “like” box at the top of the page. This page is open to the public.

August 12, 2010

Interactive exhibitor information

Attendees and exhibitors can keep up-to-date on registered exhibitors and potential exhibitors can select space with the interactive exhibitor page.

July 28, 2010

More on the May 17, news release “Head, Hand, AND Heart—Nurturing the Fine Arts in Every Lutheran School”...

Distinguished presenters for this workshop include the following: Richard Fischer (Distinguished Professor of Music, Concordia Chicago); Deb Herman (Associate Professor of Art, Art Education, Concordia Chicago); Jean Bojes (music education consultant); Diane Wardenburg (professional dancer/instructor/choreographer); and Jeff Burkart (retired dean of the College of Vocation and ministry, Concordia, St. Paul).

July 21, 2010

Convocation hotel research

Registration time is almost here for the 2011 LEA Convocation. Wondering which hotel is for you? Hotel rate ranges appear in the left column. Tour each hotel using the links below. DO NOT REGISTER FOR A HOTEL NOW! This must be done on the convocation registration form … coming next month.

·          Garfield Suites

·          Hilton Netherland Plaza

·          Hyatt Cincinnati

·          Millennium Hotel

·          Westin Cincinnati

July 12, 2010

Leonard Sweet has agreed to keynote the 2011 Convocation. His presentation content and style are guaranteed to make you think—and think a lot!

June 14, 2010

Convocation value comparison:

• Registration for the LEA Convocation is $280 for members, including 2 banquets and entertainment; hotel rooms start at $109.

• If you were attending the Building Learning Communities convention, registration would cost $695—no banquets; hotel is $199.

• If you went to the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education, registration is $695—no banquets; hotel is $165.

June 7, 2010

Building Hope in the City—Cincinnati Servant Event

Convocation registrants may opt to participate in a neighborhood outreach/canvas event for the Avondale community near Immanuel Lutheran Church/ Kid’s Church. This is an organized outreach/canvas event where volunteers are paired with Building Hope in the City leaders to canvas the area around Immanuel and distribute Immanuel and Kid’s Church brochures. This is a Thursday morning pre-Convocation event.

May 28, 2010

Convocation in-gathering will include 3 ways to help those served by Building Hope in the City: backpacks for kids, new clothing, and Kroger gift cards.

May 27, 2010

LEA is pleased to announce another 3-hour pre-Convocation workshop for Thursday morning (Mar. 24): Outreach from the Front Porch of Lutheran Schools. Terry Schmidt will help Lutheran educators to value and seize the mission opportunities God provides for them in their community from their congregation's front porch.

May 25, 2010

LEA is pleased to announce that Dr. Perry Bresemann will conduct a 3-hour preConvocation workshop on Thursday, March 24, titled The Big Three - Integration, Professional Development, and Infrastructure. Explore ways that our Lutheran Schools are meeting the challenge of 21st Century Learning.

May 20, 2010

LEA is pleased to announce that Katie Stam, Miss America 2009, will speak at the Friday evening banquet and also on Saturday morning. Katie attended a Lutheran school, and her mom is a teacher in a Lutheran school.

May 17, 2010

“Head, Hand, AND Heart—Nurturing the Fine Arts in Every Lutheran School” will be a pre-Convocation symposium held on Wednesday, March 23, preceding the Thursday Convocation opening.

   The Fine Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance), glorious gifts from God to all of humanity, are all critical to the holistic development of every child.  The Arts bridge both sides of the brain, engaging imagination, providing for individual expression, and the development of creativity to enhance every aspect of life.

    Participants will learn about and recognize the components (including the National Standards) that make a sound and appropriate Fine Arts curriculum.

    School administrators, classroom teachers at every level, and those currently teaching the Fine Arts all will find this symposium informative, practical, and truly inspirational – regardless of the type or size of program and budgetary resources. Registration details will be available in August.

May 10, 2010

The Thursday night’s fun and fellowship banquet entertainment will feature The Skit Guys, nationally known entertainers at religious events. They also will provide a sectional on Thursday.

May 3, 2010

Lutheran Special Education Ministries will play a special role at the Convocation next March. They will have a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Lab in the exhibit hall, where you can experience what it is like to learn differently.

April 28, 2010

A preview of sectional titles is now available. Sectionals are listed by strand. The list is tentative. Additions and cancellations are expected. This list may help you with Title 1 applications or to support your attendance to your governing board, congregation, or other potential funders. Watch LEAnews for updates.

April 16, 2010

The working (tentative and partial) Convocation schedule may be viewed in the left margin on the Convocation page. Please note that though the schedule is tentative, opening registration (8:00 a.m. March 24), first sectional (12:30 p.m. March 24, and Convocation closing (11:45 a.m. March 26) are reliable. The official schedule will be available no later than August.

March 11, 2010

Convocation transportation alert

Air fares into Cincinnati tend to be wildly erratic, often on the negative side. It is advisable to monitor fares now to get some ideas about reasonable fares. Sites such as Kayak or your favorite airline’s web site can facilitate this process. Cincinnati is served by Delta, American, United, Continental, and US Airways.

     If you live in a city served by megabus, you may find very affordable transportation to Cincinnati.

March 9, 2010

Convocation attractions

Aside from the LEA Convocation (March 24-26, 2011), Cincinnati has many interesting attractions. Among the standouts are The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Contemporary Arts Center.

March 5, 2010

Sectional strands

The process of reviewing and selecting sectionals from 250 responses to the Call for Proposals continues. LEA asked applicants to classify their proposals under one of seven strands to help Convocation participants choose sectionals applicable to them. The seven strands are

1. Methods & Content

2. Ministry & Vocation

3. Emerging Technology & Ministry

4. Leadership

5. Wellness & Relationships

6. Outreach

7. World View

Applicants will be notified of the status of their proposals on March 19.

February 8, 2010

Convocation tentative schedule

Here are some highlights to help you plan for the 2011 LEA Convocation:

• Pre-Convocation workshops start at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Mar. 24.

• Convocation opens at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Mar. 24.

•  Evening banquet meals included in registration cost on Thursday and Friday, Mar. 24 and 25 respectively.

• Convocation concludes at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 26.

• Exhibits open at 11:00 a.m. on Mar. 24 and 8:00 a.m. on Mar. 25.

Note: Some special  meetings are scheduled to begin Wednesday (e.g., International Symposium, Lutheran Special Education Ministries, arts group) or after (English Dist. administrators). Special interest groups involved in these meetings will be notified.)

December 2, 2009

Convocation budget guide

The 2011 LEA Convocation Budget Guide is now available to help you plan and manage your expenses. Some schools or individuals may want to take advantage of the Convocation Layaway Plan. Get the guide now.

August 20, 2010

Convocation Call for Proposals now available

Want to speak at the 2011 LEA Convocation? Fill out the Call for Proposals online.

Want to encourage someone else to speak? Send them to www.lea.org/CfP2011.htm. 

·       When you fill out the form, be sure to follow directions! Three rules with greatest potential for frustration:

• Do not use the ENTER key to move from item to time; use the TAB key instead.

• Complete all items on the form.

• Be sure to save the confirmation page after you submit the form.

Call for Proposals is available only online. We have tested it extensively, but you know how that goes! If you have trouble, call (708.209.3453) or email Ed Grube.

August 20, 2010

Convocation Call for Proposals

The 2011 LEA Convocation Call for Proposals form will be available September 1. Proposals will be accepted for consideration only online. Members will receive an email when the form is released. Both members and non members may submit proposals.

June 19, 2009

Convocation Q & A Page Opened

Do you have questions about the Convocation? See the questions--and answers--that we thought up. If you have additional questions, send them to ed.grube@lea.org. Go to the Q & A page. A PDF version is available for you to use with your governing board, staff, or others.

May 18, 2009

Convocation Logo Unveiled

Official versions of the 2011 LEA Convocation logo were adopted May 15. All variations include the distinctive red cross and shadow. Kathryn Brewer, who also serves as art director for LEA's Shaping the Future magazine, designed the logo.

April 22, 2009

Great Rate Locked in at Millennium

The Millennium Hotel, directly across from the convention center, has locked in its LEA rate at $109 per room per night. (Sorry, you can't reserve a room until August of 2010.

March 25, 2009

LEA Announces 2011 Convocation Theme

Lutheran Education Association’s Convocation Steering Committee approved Crossing Over as the theme for its 2011 Convocation in the city of bridges, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Convocation is March 24–26, at Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Center.

     The theme is based on a variety of Bible passages that emphasize Jesus Christ as a bridge between sinners and eternal life with the Triune God in heaven. The theme also supports the constant crossing over by educators in Lutheran ministries to all facets of educational endeavors and pedagogy. Crossing Over, as a theme, was borrowed with blessings from planners of a past Educators in Black Ministry conference and Black Ministry Convocation.

     The steering committee is composed of Dave Ebeling, Karla McDivitt, Paul Piel, Gordon Stuckert, and Sue Von Fange. Tina Machina (Meeting Services Unlimited), LEA staff, and production manager Kurt Bickel round out the team. The steering committee also plans to strategically consult with staff from LCMS School Ministry, LCMS Children’s Ministry, Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools, and  other related educational agencies in developing the program.