Business and Education Collaborate on Skills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RICK PEARCE – 513-422-4551
Business and Education work to improve Skills
At their recent Annual Dinner, A Year in Review, The Chamber announced a new initiative with two of their public-school districts; Monroe Local Schools and Madison Local Schools respectively. Late last year each district adopted the future ready skill set that better prepares students for life after high school. “For the past four years, the Education/Career Path Task Force of The Chamber of Commerce has been working to build awareness with area students of the careers that exist locally”, says Chamber President Rick Pearce. “For 2019, businesses have been meeting to determine the skills/characteristics that they need in all employees. Members agreed on the skills/characteristics and we presented the profile to all the districts in our service area last summer. We asked each district to amend their minimum state graduation requirements to add the skills/characteristics we’re referring to as future ready,” says Pearce. Rick Pearce is President/CEO of The Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton.
"This is an exciting time for our district, we’re working on changing and improving what a "future ready" graduate looks like. This new mindset of working with the Chamber and area businesses to help provide meaningful training and opportunities for students to consider going into the workforce right after graduation is opening many new doors. With new technology evolving continuously the workforce landscape is certainly changing as well. The future is bright and full of opportunity for our students no matter what route they choose to pursue. I am proud that Monroe Local Schools has joined this partnership and look forward to seeing it evolve," remarks Leslie Stone, past President of Monroe Local School Board.
“Monroe Local Schools has embraced the opportunity to partner with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to enhance opportunities to further develop our students’ skill-sets that go beyond the academic content. While we want to assure that our students have the academic knowledge, we also want them to have the skills to be successful in any pathway they choose.” Kathy, Demers, Monroe Local Schools Superintendent
Madison Local Schools Superintendent Dr. Lisa Tuttle-Huff remarks, “there are transferable skills that education can incorporate into daily academics which will prepare students to be not only work-ready but better citizens. K-12 education must prioritize an inclusive and lifelong approach to skills development to prepare students for work. Whether a student goes to college, military or the workforce, producing employable graduates is the ultimate success measure of education. “
“We are excited about Monroe’s and Madison’s adoption of a future ready graduate profile into their graduation requirements.
This will be a unique opportunity for our schools and businesses to work collaboratively to produce a skill set in their students that will have an immediate positive impact of local employers and employers anywhere. Any business would be excited to hire a student with a future ready skill set. The business community applauds Monroe and Madison for going beyond the state minimum requirements and adding the future ready skill set”, says Pearce.
Edgewood City School and Middletown City Schools are examining, deliberating and intending to adopt future ready at a future date.
The Chamber of Commerce serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton serves over 400 businesses in southwest Ohio and celebrated its 75th year in 2019.
