Mr. Meeder provides informative and inspiring presentations to a wide range of audiences, including educators, business leaders, statewide organizations, and legislatures.  His presentations are tailored to the needs of the specific audience.  Some of the most popular topics are listed below.

All of these presentations can be built into a half-day or full-day workshop facilitated by Mr. Meeder and trained facilitators.

What Works in Improving High Schools

High school reform and redesign is a hot topic of conversation today.  State and local governments are forming commissions and study groups to review the current model of the American high school and ask, “What should we do to improve student results – tinker with the model, reform it, or start over from scratch?”   In this presentation, Mr. Meeder draws from his experience leading the U.S. Department of Education’s High School Initiative to de-mystify the many strategies and approaches to high school redesign.  He explains the concepts of Rigor, Relevance and Relationships, reviews the key models and reform strategies, and can help your school district or state begin a well-informed study and decision-making process for high school improvement.

Understanding and Implementing the New Perkins Career Technical Education Act

There’s a new federal law that will impact your State Department of Education, school district or community and technical college.  The Perkins Career Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 makes significant changes to accountability and program requirements for career and technical education (CTE).   During 2006 and 2007, states and local participants will be required to change the way they gather and report performance data, implement new CTE Programs of Study (Career Pathways), and take action to improve student performance across a range of accountability measures.   With this presentation, Mr. Meeder will describe key changes in the new law, and give practical guidance for your district or college to integrate these requirements into your overall improvement strategies.

Why Career Technical Education matters in High School Redesign

Many education leaders intent on improving high schools are unsure how career technical education plays in their efforts to improve high schools.  Important questions need to be addressed.  

• What are the most promising trends in new career and technical education programs that can be integrated college-prep level academic expectations with relevant, engaging career-related learning?  
• Can these programs be a key part of our high school improvement strategies?
• How do these programs relate to career academies and Career Pathways that lead to college level coursework? 

Elements of high-quality CTE include integrated academics, contextualized learning, connection of career and college planning, and character and leadership development. These program elements can benefit all students and support increased college-going and workplace success.  In this keynote address, Mr. Meeder explains how modern, high-quality CTE can help strengthen your district’s efforts in high school redesign and improvement, and what you can do to connect your CTE improvement and high school redesign efforts. 

Making the Connection between High School and College

College-going is almost a pre-requisite for achievement in today’s job market, but given high drop-out rates and poor academic preparation, far too few young people making a smooth transition into and through postsecondary education and training (colleges, universities, community/technical colleges, and apprenticeships).  Many schools and colleges are experimenting with strategies to improve college transitions, but few school systems and colleges have set measurable goals or implemented comprehensive strategies.  Mr. Meeder brings together the big picture about the shortcomings in connections between secondary and postsecondary systems.  He explains the most promising strategies schools and colleges are implementing for making sure students are fully prepared, have a workable plan for college and employment, and debunks myths about college-going that pervade society.  He can help your school, college or secondary/postsecondary partnership take action to increase the success of students going to and completing college programs.

Unlocking the Youth Reading Crisis

Reading is the gateway to learning.  But the reading comprehension skills of young people at the middle and high school levels is dangerously low, and blocks deep learning of other subject matter, including science, mathematics, history, and other areas.  Most American schools stop focusing on reading at the 4^th grade, and older students are left to develop more complex reading comprehension and analytical skills on their own.  In this presentation, Mr. Meeder unlocks the key research about effective reading comprehension strategies for middle and high schools.  He shares experiences from real schools that have implemented these literacy strategies to create a school-wide culture of literacy and learning.