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The 27th annual BTU QuEST Conference took place on Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel. For the first time the BTU had its QuEST Conference outside of a school or the Professional Development Center, it was a huge success. Nearly, 1,000 teachers and paraprofessionals came to the Hilton, despite the rainy day.

Participants in the conference were able to attend workshops on everything from the IEP Process to how Hip Hop fits into the School Culture. Lunch was served and participants could enjoy several venders and the annual Health Fair. To begin the conference, BTU President, Marietta English spoke and said how great the QuEST Conference is and how much teachers and paraprofessionals can learn during the conference. Ms. English also noted that the BTU is celebrating its 75th Anniversary.

“This is our 75th Anniversary and I’m so proud of all of our accomplishments,” English said. “We have to thank all of the people who have worked so hard over the years.”

Tisha Edwards, Chief of State for Baltimore City Public Schools brought greetings to the group from Dr. Andres Alonso, CEO of Baltimore City Schools. She said the CEO as well as the entire school system know teachers and paraprofessionals are the heart and soul of the system.

“We have made great strides recently but we still have a long way to go,” Edwards said. She said Baltimore City must continue to provide high quality, engaged teachers and we must continue to celebrate great work throughout the system.

Pat Forrester, a representative from Governor Martin O’Malley’s office said the Governor was pleased with the results from the TELL Maryland Survey and they were able to gather some good data. “We know you care about being the best you can be,” Forrester said. “The governor wants to see that things are working.”

She said the data and information collected from the TELL Survey should be in every school at this point and that teachers and paraprofessionals should ask their principals to see the information.

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon also spoke during the conference saying that BTU Members are lucky because they have two presidents who truly care about them and are working hard for their rights. She said Professional Athletes and Entertainers make millions of dollars, while teachers are barely getting by and she doesn’t understand it. “You are molding the minds of our children, nothing compares to what you do,” Dixon said.

Baltimore City Teacher of the Year, Nicholas Greer a science teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute was also in attendance as was School Board President, Neil Duke who said he was happy to be at such a great conference.

The Keynote speaker for the conference, Dr. Linda Stelly, Assistant Director of Educational Issues for the AFT who reminded teachers and paraprofessionals that once you stop learning, you stop living. “Keep Striving against the odds,” Stelly told the attendees. “You’ve answered a higher calling, be vigilant.”

Dr. Stelly also challenged teachers and paraprofessionals to find ways to bring their resources together for all families.

BTU President, Dr. Lorretta Johnson spoke during lunch and told the group she had been to all 27 QuEST Conferences. She said teachers and paraprofessionals need to do their part to help President Barack Obama’s Healthcare package pass. “The Cost of Healthcare is what drains your paycheck,” Johnson said. “It’s what we go to the table to negotiate for.”

She his confident that a healthcare reform bill will pass, she said to just look at Obama, the first African American President elected in the United States, that is just proof that anything can be achieved.

LaMarr Shields, Co-Founder of the Urban Leadership Institute in Baltimore also spoke during lunch and said education is serious. He said Teachers and Paraprofessionals need to be aware of everything that comes out of their mouths. He says if a teacher says something negative to a student, the student could be hurt and won’t be motivate in the classroom any more.

“If you don’t know you’re great, then you won’t be,” Shields said. “You have to tell your students how good they are.”