🗺️ Location
Branson Convention Center on the LandingYou will need to pay to park unless you use the lot at the south end of the convention center. That lot has been sponsored by AspirEdu to allow for free parking.
Stop by the Registration table outside the ballroom to check-in, get your lanyard and a program.
We continue to monitor the increasing COVID-19 case counts due to the Delta variant. Please be advised that Taney County COVID-19 transmission levels remain elevated. Your personal safety and well-being are our top priority, and we trust that you will make the best decision regarding your attendance. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and request someone be sent in your place.
You have important work to do in your schools and communities in the coming weeks. While we have no hard data to support this notion, we believe that vaccination rates among educators are higher than that of the general population. However, the CDC is now recommending masks be worn indoors by all individuals (age 2 and older) to improve protection. The CDC recommendations are supported by the Taney County Health Department and Branson Convention Center. Consistent, correct mask usage is especially important in crowded settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Masks are strongly encouraged at our event.
We are working with the Branson Convention Center to distance attendees as best as possible, and we will have hand sanitizer (provided by Pure & Clean) and disposable masks placed strategically throughout the site. We ask for district employees to consider sitting together when attending the keynote speaker sessions in the ballroom. We will have alternate rooms with a closed feed available during the keynotes to ensure adequate physical distancing. We ask that all attendees remain cognizant of all these efforts (masking, sitting with school families, frequent washing of hands, and physical distancing) to ensure everyone has an enjoyable, safe learning experience.
🪑 Breakout and Roundtable Sessions
Here is a grid schedule of the breakout and roundtable sessions that includes a link to the slide decks.At 4:00 on Thursday, join us in the Ballroom for appetizers, drinks, music and door prizes. We will be honoring our member districts and sharing their successes. Everyone is encouraged to stop by to enjoy networking and socializing opportunities with colleagues across our region.
Dr. Dennis Cooper CelebrationWe greatly appreciate the work of Dr. Dennis Cooper in leading GOCSD over the past six years. His leadership has been key to this organization becoming a leading voice for education in southwest Missouri.
We hope many of you can attend the formal celebration for Dennis to be held in conjunction with the Innovation Summit Celebration in which honor many educators in our region.
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Ballroom on the first floor of the Branson Convention Center
4:15-4:45 Dennis will be greeting colleagues in a receiving line as they enter the reception. Visitors can drop off a card.
4:45-5:30 Formal reception and presentation honoring Dennis
GOCSD has secured a conference rate ($143.00 for Deluxe Queen Room) for the Branson Hilton Convention Center Hotel. The conference rate will be guaranteed 3 days prior and 3 days after the event to help with your planning!
👉🏻 Reserve rooms at the Branson HiltonWe have also secured a room block at the Comfort Inn & Suites 5150 Gretna Road Branson MO 65616 that includes $94.00 for 2 Queen Beds.
Call Comfort Inn & Suites at 417-335-4731 and ask for the "GOCSD Innovation Summit Rate."
