Education Expo offers parents advice, connections and resources

Parents seeking to better understand Michigan’s education crisis and get tools and resources to help address the issues can hear from experts during a new feature called EdTalks at this year’s 23rd annual Education Expo, which will be held noon-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30 at the Cranbrook Institute of Science.

Developed by Metro Parent and Bridge Magazine, EdTalks will include a series of short dialogues and a panel discussion featuring education experts representing parents, educators, advocates and administrators.

EdTalks will include three short talks, plus a longer panel discussion moderated by Chastity Pratt Dawsey, an award-winning reporter for Bridge Magazine who has covered education for nearly two decades. That panel will include four education experts representing parents, educators, advocates and administrators. After the panel, Bridge’s engagement team will conduct an interactive town hall, similar to the town halls that have been held throughout the state this year.

Also presenting at EdTalks are Gary Abud, the 2013-2014 Michigan Teacher of the Year; 10-year-old Elena, a Farmington Hills blogger and book reviewer, who will talk about the importance of diversity in reading; and Sal Vassallo, a tuition financing expert, who will speak about saving for college.

For decades, Education Expo has brought parents and families together with the educational resources and options they are looking for. This year’s program acknowledges that parents want and need more information about education. With EdTalks, Metro Parent partners with Bridge and the Center for Michigan by involving the parenting community in what is an issue for all of us: Educating our children.

Families can enjoy the free event, a free lunch courtesy of Nino Salvaggio and free access to the Cranbrook Institute of Science. The event runs noon to 3:30 p.m.