Cick here to watch the complete general session at the Education Summit
One of the key themes throughout the Workforce and Education Summit today was that the East Tennessee community needs to embrace changing ideas towards learning and education and move steadfastly into the future.
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam called the recently-formed Innovation Valley Inc. partnership's goal of having the best workforce in the nation within 10 years both bold and ambitious. But his sentiment, and that of other community and education leaders, was that the goal was attainable with cooperation and dedication to improving the education system in the area.
Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale said that, "To ensure the future economic prosperity of the region, we have got to have a great workforce. To have that, we need effective educational programs. The two go together."
Dr. Matt Murray, Associate Director of the Center for Business and Education Research at the University of Tennessee, gave an account of the current state of Tennessee's education system. For example, only 70 percent of high school students graduate. Only 17 percent of Tennessee high school freshmen will graduate from college within six years of entering college. Tennessee spends about three-quarters of the national average per pupil on education. Tennessee received failing grades in many key areas in national and local surveys about education.
The Summit, attended by many of the Innovation Valley's top educational, political, business, and community leaders, was held at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Presenting sponsors for the Summit were EdFinancial Services and South College. Contributing sponsors include the Knoxville Chamber, Knox County, City of Knoxville and the Great Schools Partnership.
