LUDWIG PRESIDES OVER MBEA CONFERENC

Jackson R-2 teachers Janet Koch, Rhonda Norman, Debra Hoffman and Janet Ludwig networked at the MBEA Fellowship Luncheon.

Jackson High School business teacher Janet Ludwig presided over the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education/Missouri Business Education Association's 30th annual Joint Summer Conference in Springfield, July 26-29.

Over 3,5000 MOACTE members registered and more than 100 exhibitors presented displays. Approximately 700 MBEA members attended the summer conference. Ludwig is this year's president of the MBEA.

The theme for this year's conference was "Celebrating Business Education--Past, Present, Future." Teachers were able to network with other business teachers, learn new techniques, update information, and socialize with colleagues from Missouri. MBEA stimulates growth and professional development in business education throughout the state.

The business education teachers from Jackson Senior High School attending the MBEA Conference were Ludwig, Department Chair; Debra Hoffmann, Vocational Instructor; Janet Koch, Becky Riney, Kathy Hecht, and Rhonda Norman. The Jackson Senior High School Business Department was recognized for 100 percent membership in Missouri Business Education Association. As President of the Business Division, Ludwig also served as a member of the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education executive board and the American Association for Career and Technical Education executive board. A total of twelve divisions comprise the association's specialized groups within the field of career and technical education. During the year Ludwig represented the state of Missouri for business education at several national, state, and regional conferences.

Ludwig, Debra Hoffmann, Becky Riney, and Janet Koch were recognized as members of the of the Who's Who in Missouri Business Education at the MBEA Fellowship Luncheon. Hoffmann served as chair of the Auditing Committee and was a member on the Luncheon/Awards Committee and the Business Teachers Shortage Committee. Riney served on the Scholarship Committee and Hecht served on the Marketing/Linkage Committee.

Tara Allen, senior from Southeast Missouri State University, served at the MBEA Student Representative on the MBEA Executive Board. Past President of MBEA, Wilma Wilcoxson was recognized for her service to MBEA at the Fellowship Luncheon. The MBEA opening sessions included a greeting from the president of Missouri's Future Business Leaders of America, JHS senior Josh Pfefferkorn.

Business curriculum areas, multimedia, developing on-line courses, voice recognition, classroom management, Work Keys assessment, industry standard certifications, teaching strategies, trends in business, new software programs, and assessment were some of the interesting, timely topics that were addressed in approximately 100 workshops. Teachers had an opportunity to observe demonstrations of the latest instructional equipment including digital cameras, scanners, electronic whiteboards, etc.

The conference's program featured a variety of roundtables including Middle school curriculum, recruiting students and promoting the business program, accounting, desktop publishing, business law, grant writing tips, and integration of academics. In addition, a multitude of "hands-on" computer sessions offered participants a chance to enhance Internet skills, build web sites, integrate software applications efficiently, as well as receive instruction on software including: MSOffice 2000, MS-Publisher '98, and PageMaker 6.5.