TVOParents.com puts parents in the front row at leading-edge conference
focused on improving Ontario's public schools

• Live video streams, blogs and Twitter feed available during and after conference at tvoparents.com/makingconnections2010  

TORONTO, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - TVOParents.com will give parents live, online access to an annual conference which brings together parents, educators and experts to improve public education in Ontario. As the media sponsor for the "Making Connections" conference, organized by People for Education, TVOParents.com will live stream a panel discussion on parent involvement, post videos of speeches by Ontario's Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky and child brain development expert Stuart Shanker, and much more.  

Parents can visit tvoparents.com/makingconnections2010 to gain inside access to the conference, which takes place November 13-14, 2010 at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Visitors to the site can enter a contest to win a Sony E-Reader and follow video and blog updates from the conference.  

On Saturday November 13 at 2 pm, parents are invited to watch the live video stream of the plenary panel discussion "Parents as Partners", which is moderated by TVOParents.com host Cheryl Jackson and looks at how much say parents should have in the school system. Viewers across Canada can ask questions and participate in the discussion via the live chat on the site or the live Twitter feed (hashtag #P4E). 

The second day of the People for Education conference on November 14 will feature a workshop facilitated by TVOParents.com to help participants choose several issues raised at the conference that they would like to take action on. Registration for Day 1 or Day 2 of the conference is available at tvoparents.com/makingconnections2010, where the results from the workshop will also be posted. 

"Even if they can't attend the conference in person, TVOParents.com wants to engage parents in discussions about their children's education whenever they are available to participate," says Zeelaf Majeed, Supervising Editor of TVOParents.com. "That is why our content lives online. Our growing collection of videos, articles, and blogs with education experts will equip parents with the information and advice they need to help their children reach their full potential."  

After the conference concludes, TVOParents.com will post video interviews with speakers from the conference on topics ranging from new research on child brain development, models for community schools, the role of principals, and the overall state of Ontario's public school system.  

This content is easier than ever to access with the new "magazine style" format of TVOParents.com, which organizes content around monthly themes to help parents understand the key issues affecting their chid's success. November's theme is parent involvement, while December looks at the connections between language, literacy and mental health. All related content for the month is easy to find on one page so parents can learn everything they want to know about a specific issue, or pick and choose the videos and articles they have time for. 

About People for Education 

People for Education is an independent parent-led organization, working to improve public education in Ontario's English, Catholic and French schools. For more information, visit peopleforeducation.com.  
 
About TVO 

TVO is Ontario's public educational media organization and a trusted source of interactive educational content that informs, inspires and stimulates curiosity and thought. Celebrating 40 years in 2010, TVO's vision is to empower people to be engaged citizens of Ontario through educational media. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.  

Where to find TVO 

Cable channel 2 (channel may vary in some areas), Rogers HD channel 580, Bell TV channel 265, Shaw Direct channel 353.  

For further information:

Media contact: 
Laura Wickett 
TVO Communications 
416.484.2600 ext. 5550 
[email protected]