ARTICLE
LLENTOWN, Pa. - Workforce readiness was the theme of Tuesday’s “Education in Allentown” forum at Miller Symphony Hall. Organized by the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the education forum brought leaders from education, labor and government together to discuss the changing needs of education in Allentown. Tony Iannelli, President and CEO of The Chamber, opened the gathering. Walking to the podium to the tune of the Alice Cooper classic, “School’s out for summer,” Ianelli drew a laugh from the audience. “Today is about the future,” Ianelli said, bringing the audience back to a more serious note, “the future of our community.” “Our biggest challenge is workforce readiness,” Iannelli said. Jerry Oleksiak, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, detailed Governor Wolf’s plan to reach that goal of workforce readiness. He described the need for a well educated workforce which can constantly adapt to a changing world. Governor Wolf’s education budget will allocate $200 million for education, including $50 million for Pre-K and head start. Wolf also plans to work toward free full-day kindergarten for all children starting at age 5 and to increase the legal age to drop out from 17 to 18. Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director of the Workforce Board, Lehigh Valley, detailed how encouraging partnerships with business and education can grow a skilled workforce. The recently created Business Partnership Resource Directory was developed so schools can make those connections themselves. “We are dancing as fast as we can,” Dischinat said, “but we need more dancers.” Thomas Parker, Allentown School District's superintendent, explained the thought process behind the district’s journey toward each student's college and workforce success. “How can we take our district from good to great?” was the question the district asked. “Our vision is for every kid to graduate both college and career ready,” Parker said. There is a 1 to 1 digital device (tablet or computer) ratio for every child in the district, with a 2 to 1 ratio in the elementary years, Parker said. These ratios are designed to help break the digital divide that can keep low-income students from succeeding in an increasingly tech-dependent job market. “I like to always talk about preparing students for a wealth of options," Parker told WFMZ. "We want every kid in the Allentown School District to have the opportunity to choose work and career and have all the skills necessary to succeed in whatever they choose.” Ann Bieber, Lehigh County Community College's president, said the college is in the process of implementing a program where students can receive an associates degree and high school diploma at the same time through a dual enrollment program. Bieber expects the program will begin with about 20 students in the near future. Joe McMahon, Manager for the City of Allentown, spoke to WFMZ about why it was important for him to be at the forum. “My kids went to the Allentown School District,” he said. “I’ve been invested in Allentown for 37 years. Now as the city manager for Allentown, I’m trying to make the city a better place to work, live and get an education.” McMahon praised the positive energy growing in both the city and the school district. “I’m coming away from this forum with an appreciation for the amazing amount of programs that these agencies cooperate on together,” he said. Read the original article here.
LLENTOWN, Pa. - Workforce readiness was the theme of Tuesday’s “Education in Allentown” forum at Miller Symphony Hall.
Organized by the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the education forum brought leaders from education, labor and government together to discuss the changing needs of education in Allentown.
Tony Iannelli, President and CEO of The Chamber, opened the gathering. Walking to the podium to the tune of the Alice Cooper classic, “School’s out for summer,” Ianelli drew a laugh from the audience.
“Today is about the future,” Ianelli said, bringing the audience back to a more serious note, “the future of our community.”
“Our biggest challenge is workforce readiness,” Iannelli said.
Jerry Oleksiak, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, detailed Governor Wolf’s plan to reach that goal of workforce readiness.
He described the need for a well educated workforce which can constantly adapt to a changing world.
Governor Wolf’s education budget will allocate $200 million for education, including $50 million for Pre-K and head start.
Wolf also plans to work toward free full-day kindergarten for all children starting at age 5 and to increase the legal age to drop out from 17 to 18.
Nancy Dischinat, Executive Director of the Workforce Board, Lehigh Valley, detailed how encouraging partnerships with business and education can grow a skilled workforce. The recently created Business Partnership Resource Directory was developed so schools can make those connections themselves.
“We are dancing as fast as we can,” Dischinat said, “but we need more dancers.”
Thomas Parker, Allentown School District's superintendent, explained the thought process behind the district’s journey toward each student's college and workforce success.
“How can we take our district from good to great?” was the question the district asked.
“Our vision is for every kid to graduate both college and career ready,” Parker said.
There is a 1 to 1 digital device (tablet or computer) ratio for every child in the district, with a 2 to 1 ratio in the elementary years, Parker said.
These ratios are designed to help break the digital divide that can keep low-income students from succeeding in an increasingly tech-dependent job market.
“I like to always talk about preparing students for a wealth of options," Parker told WFMZ.
"We want every kid in the Allentown School District to have the opportunity to choose work and career and have all the skills necessary to succeed in whatever they choose.”
Ann Bieber, Lehigh County Community College's president, said the college is in the process of implementing a program where students can receive an associates degree and high school diploma at the same time through a dual enrollment program.
Bieber expects the program will begin with about 20 students in the near future.
Joe McMahon, Manager for the City of Allentown, spoke to WFMZ about why it was important for him to be at the forum.
“My kids went to the Allentown School District,” he said. “I’ve been invested in Allentown for 37 years. Now as the city manager for Allentown, I’m trying to make the city a better place to work, live and get an education.”
McMahon praised the positive energy growing in both the city and the school district.
“I’m coming away from this forum with an appreciation for the amazing amount of programs that these agencies cooperate on together,” he said.
Read the original article here.