To raise awareness about the critical need to provide every child with a quality public education, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and The Education Alliance this week announced the second annual statewide education summit, Excellence in Education: It’s Everyone’s Business, on Oct. 20 at Embassy Suites Charleston.
“As a former teacher and as a father, I understand the importance of a good education, and as Governor, I recognize providing a world-class education is essential to West Virginia’s future,” Gov. Tomblin said.
“Through continued collaboration at events like this year’s Education Summit, we can continue to improve and increase educational opportunities to ensure our state’s continued growth and economic success. By investing in our future and providing our children with the best education possible, we are building the foundation for improving student achievement across the state.”
Business, education and community leaders are invited to participate in this important discussion on how to work together to improve student achievement in West Virginia. Record breaking attendance is expected as summit participants hear from author and CEO of Getting Smart Tom Vander Ark who will discuss opportunities to use digital tools to personalize learning for all students. New State
Superintendent Michael Martirano will share his vision for galvanizing the state around improving student achievement. The summit will kick off with a Business Roundtable with industry leaders providing their perspective on the knowledge and skills that students need to be part of West Virginia’s workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
“I’m convinced that emphasizing real-world, deeper learning will engage students and help us raise graduation rates as well as skill levels of new graduates” said Dr. Amelia Courts, president and CEO of The Education Alliance. “Our business and industry leaders tell us that they need a high quality workforce to ensure West Virginia’s future. I believe they are willing to step up and play a critical role in supporting innovative changes in our schools.”
The summit includes both national and state presenters including West Virginia Board of Education President Gayle Manchin who said, “The future quality of life for the citizens of West Virginia is directly linked to the performance of our students. The board is working to implement the governor’s education reform vision and is actively leading change. The education summit will provide a much-needed opportunity to exchange opinions, share ideas and explore innovative ways to engage students.”
Excellence in Education: It’s Everyone’s Business will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, at Embassy Suites in Charleston. Registration is open through Oct. 20. For more information or to register online, visit EducationAlliance.org/Summit or contact The Education Alliance at 1-866-314-KIDS.