Welcome to our professional state organization! We represent a group of teachers who are proud to be business educators and work hard preparing our students to be productive employees in the business world. I am proud to serve as IBEA President for 2009-2010. This year I have worked together with my IBEA colleagues to bring exciting opportunities to all Iowa business educators.

We provide an excellent opportunity for professional development each year at the IBEA Fall Convention. This year our convention will be held at the Cedar Rapids Marriott on October 8 and 9. Professional development opportunities include topics in finance, technology, workforce trends, office procedures, and motivational classroom activities. Presenters from business and education have been scheduled from across Iowa and beyond. Those attending the conference will gain valuable ideas that they can take back to their classrooms to improve student learning. IBEA members will have the opportunity to obtain one graduate credit by attending sessions and participating in online coursework.

I would like to encourage all of our members to attend the convention and to bring a colleague with you. We are living in trying economic times and budgets are tight. The relatively small amount of money spent on the convention provides excellent ideas for the classroom and motivates business educators to continue to learn and grow. Take a moment and ask your colleagues to attend this convention with you.

IBEA also offers professional development opportunities each summer through workshops ranging in several topics at multiple locations across the state. The Program Management Committee has facilitated workshops in Dreamweaver, Office 2007, Literacy in Business Education and Employability Skills this past summer and hope to offer similar sessions in 2010.

Please - encourage your colleagues to join IBEA and attend our convention. You will be helping to create and encourage better business educators in Iowa.