This week, in cooperation with Arkansas State University, I hosted an event aimed at empowering young people to be a productive part of our economy. The event was designed for educators to gain a fuller understanding of what opportunities are out there for young people headed for the workforce, the skill sets required, and how best to advise their students to be successful. Local industries benefit by sharing with educators what they are looking for in hiring this up-and-coming workforce.
We kicked off the event by hearing from Tim Johnston, Associate Director of Career and Technical Education with the Arkansas Department of Education, who shared the latest about the LEARNS Act, and specifically the letter “R” which stands for Readiness. Within the Readiness tenet, the Department hopes to create flexibility for students and design career-ready pathways through technical programs for jobs that are in high demand.
Next, we heard from two different panels: one comprised of presidents of local two-year colleges, and another composed of executives from leading manufacturers in Northeast Arkansas – Nucor, Axis, and Hytrol. To wrap up the event, attendees broke off into seven roundtable sessions to have more in-depth conversations led by industry leaders – this time the three panel participants were joined by Riceland, Big River Steel, Trinity, and Anchor Packaging.
This event would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of everyone involved. It is my hope that the relationship between educators and industries that was strengthened at PACE will continue to develop. Ideally, it would be a two-way street: workforce representatives would come into schools to speak with students, while educators would get into the facilities for a first-hand look at the opportunities for which they will be preparing students. With student loan debt being at the forefront of the national conversation, it is my goal that students across the First District have access to the information and options available to them so they can make the best decisions for themselves and their future. I am thankful for Arkansas State University for partnering with my office and allowing us to use their facilities and resources. I am also grateful for the attendees, college leaders, and industry presenters for making career and technical education, and the future of young people, a priority.
