Hot Lunch Announcement

We’ve announced the initial lineup for next season of Hot Lunch!

Education blogger, author and American Enterprise Institute scholar Rick Hess will headline the first forum of the 2011-2012 series on September 9. Hess is a prolific, outspoken commentator on education reform, particularly on the EdWeek.org blog “Straight Up with Rick Hess.” In recent weeks, he has touched on topics like the common core curriculum, merit pay, and how to cut the cost of college.

Hot Lunch is a monthly education forum that takes place during the school year. This is Donnell-Kay’s fifth annual series. Last year, speakers included Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Andres Alonso; Joel Rose, formerly of School of One; and Sandi Jacobs with the National Council on Teacher Quality.

Another newly announced speaker for the 2011-2012 series is Sajan George, founder and CEO of Matchbook Learning, a hybrid school model that’s been preapproved in 4 states as a whole-school turnaround reform provider. He will speak to the Hot Lunch audience on October 14. Celine Coggins, CEO and founder of Teach Plus, comes to town November 18. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Teach Plus aims to boost the population of experienced teachers in urban classrooms.

Hot Lunch continues in January 2012 with Jeff Piontek, head of school at Hawaii Technology Academy, which is implementing the blended learning model. Speakers for February through May will be announced at a later date.

All Hot Lunch events take place at the Hotel Monaco in downtown Denver from 11:30 – 1:30 pm.