“21st Century Education” by Mike Johnston

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s Speaker Series

One of America’s “Most influential Educators” Mike Johnston to speak publicly about academics in the Vail Valley.

Join the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy on Monday December 13th, 4 PM in Minturn, for the presentation.

Eagle County School’s Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (VSSA) presents the next of their “Speaker Series” with locally raised and educated State Senator Mike Johnston.  Ski & Snowbaord Club Vail’s Executive Director, Aldo Radamus, says, “Michael Johnston has been recognized by President Obama for his innovative work and incredible success in public education. We’re very lucky to have him share some of his experience and knowledge with our community and Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy.”

The event takes place at VSSA, located in the Minturn Middle School, Mailot Park, at 4:00pm on Monday December 13, 2010. The public is welcome to join the students, staff, and families of the VSSA for this informative and educational event. Following the presentation, refreshments will be served and a question and answer session will ensue.

Mike Johnston represents Northeast Denver in the Colorado State Senate, where he is Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee and is a member of the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee and the Education Committee. Before arriving at the Senate, Mike served as a public school teacher and principal for more than eight years. He was the co-founder and principal of MESA (Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts), a redesigned urban high school that made Colorado history when 100 percent of seniors were admitted to four-year colleges. His first experience as an educator was teaching English in the Mississippi Delta with Teach for America, which led him to write his acclaimed education memoir, In the Deep Heart’s Core. He went on to serve as the principal of two alternative high schools for Colorado students and to co-found New Leaders for New Schools, a national non-profit that recruits, prepares, and places outstanding urban school leaders. He has been an adjunct professor of education law at the University of Denver and serves as an education advisor to state and federal political campaigns around the country, most recently as an education advisor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and administration. Recently named to Time Magazine’s “40 Under 40” and Forbes Magazine’s list of “Most Influential Educators,” Mike holds degrees from Yale College, the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and the Yale Law School. In Minturn, Mike will speak about growing up in the Vail Valley as well as educational opportunities available today as part of public and private initiatives like the partnership between Eagle County Schools and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail that created the VSSA.

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) has been nurturing athletes of all ages with world class programs, facilities and professional coaches since its inception in 1962 and continues to send athletes to the US Ski & Snowboard teams, NCAA schools and the Olympic Winter Games.   Historically, athletes with these passions and dreams run into roadblocks while either trying to conform to traditional schooling options, or face the challenge of high tuition costs of private ski academies. Hence, the creation of  Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy.

Please join us on Monday December 13 to find out more about the 21st Century Education model being proven right in your own back yard with student athletes who split their time in the classroom and on the snow.

For more information:

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail

Nigel Cooper

Director – Program Development

970.790.5133

ncooper@skiclubvail.org

Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy

Geoff Grimmer

Head of School

970.328.2832

geoff.grimmer.vssa@gmail.com