The 8th annual Minority Teacher Education Association Conference will be begin at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the Grand Ballroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The MTEA conference will commence with greetings from Eastern dignitaries such as interim President Lou Hencken and Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs, a press release stated.

Rosa Brown, an educator with the Chicago School District for 40 years and the keynote speaker for the conference, will address attendees and hold a workshop for educators at 9:30 a.m. in the Kansas room of the Union.

“Ms. Brown has all of the primary areas of expertise,” said Judith Lyles, a professor in the department of counseling and student development.

Brown is a Golden Apple recipient and coordinator for language arts for Chicago area schools, as well as a renowned poet.

“I think she’ll be very entertaining as well as informative,” Lyles said. “She’s a motivational speaker.”

Lyles will present a cultural diversity workshop for educators and college students during the afternoon sessions in the Kansas room of the Union.

“My workshop will be a time to get together and share ideas about successes and their local MTEA chapters,” she said.

At least six to 10 MTEA students and graduates will deliver motivating speeches about their experiences as teachers and educators from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Mattoon/Charleston, Arcola/Tuscola and Paris rooms of the Union, the press release stated.

The press release also stated that the purpose of MTEA is to recruit and retain minority students into education as a career goal. The network reduces barriers for minority students entering teacher education teacher education programs throughout Illinois.

Lyles encourages anyone in education to attend the conference – teachers and students.

Registration fee to attend the conference is $25 for professionals, which includes lunch and all of the sessions. Students wanting to attend the opening session or a single afternoon session may register as a walk-in for $3.