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Preparing students for the world of work is the focus of the fourth Education Summit, scheduled for Nov. 20 at 2517 Restaurant.
Using the theme "Education to Careers in Kosciusko County," the summit, which will begin at 7 a.m., will discuss ways to expose students to an array of career opportunities, said Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman.
He said education involves getting students out in the workplace so they know what will be expected of them in the business world, work, and so they understand why they are required to study certain subjects in school.
"This is not designed to put kids in a specific slot," Harman said. "It's designed to expose them to all the opportunities out there so they can make a better decision about what they want to do with their life."
This year's summit will feature Dr. Rob McNaughton, superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison in Mishawaka, who will provide an overview of "Education to Careers."
Educational programs, such as the teacher internship program at Othy, job shadowing and the gold card program, that have taken place since the last summit also will be reviewed. The Summit will end with small group discussion on an educational compact between business and the schools, such as agreeing on goals in common that everyone will support.
Harman said the key to success with the education to careers path is getting all the businesses in the county to sign on. One example of business cooperation would be to require high school students to bring their grade transcripts along when interviewing for jobs.
"If we tell our kids that it's important to maintain a certain grade point average and they go out and get a job and nobody looks at their transcript, then they won't try," he said.
The summit also will emphasize schools' emphasis on continuing education, such as trade schools, technical schools or four-year colleges, Harman said.
This is the fourth year education summits have been held. The annual event, Harman said, "is held to gather opinions and input from interested Kosciusko County residents on how we can all work together to provide a quality education to each student in our county."
The summit, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce. To attend, call the Chamber at 219-372-8345 by Nov. 18.
