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>>> THE FOLLOWING EPISODE OF
"JOB READY" IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY
CENTRAL PIEDMONT COMMUNITY
COLLEGE AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
6
[ MUSIC ]
66
>> HELLO, WELCOME TO "JOB
READY."
I'M TONY ZEISS.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR SHOW IS TO
SHARE EMERGING WORKFORCE TRENDS
IN CHARLOTTE AND IDENTIFY CAREER
OPTIONS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE
TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
MY GUEST IS BILL ANDERSON.
HE'S WITH MECK ED AND WE'LL
LEARN ALL ABOUT IT.
WELCOME.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> YOU'VE HAD A WONDERFUL CAREER
IN EDUCATION IN MECKLENBURG
COUNTY AND I'M PLEASED YOU'RE
CONTINUING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THE EDUCATION OF PARTICULARLY
YOUNG PEOPLE.
YOU STARTED OUT THE FIRST TIME I
MET YOU, YOU WERE THE PRINCIPAL
AT MEYERS PARK.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE AND
HOW DID HE GET TO --
>> I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ENOUGH
TIME.
I BEGAN TEACHING IN 1976 FOR 11
YEARS, PRINCIPAL FOR 13 YEARS,
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR
ONE, THEN I WENT TO WORK FOR
COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS AS THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FIVE
YEARS.
THE PAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE BEEN
WITH MECK ED.
>> YOU DID A VERY GOOD JOB AT
THAT.
IT'S CLEAR YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO
OR YOU WOULDN'T BE DOING IT.
YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL PASSION FOR
IT AND YOU'RE HIGHLY RESPECTED.
2 TELL US ABOUT MECK ED.
>> MECK ED IS OUR LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL -- WHAT WE DO IS
PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT
EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SOME PEOPLE SAY WE'RE AN
ADVOCATE.
I LIKE TO THINK WE'RE A CHAMPION
FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S IN
EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S IN
EVERYONE'S BEST INTEREST.
WE TRY TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND
ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY AROUND THE
MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT HAVE
TO DO WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> Tony: YOU COULDN'T HAVE SAID
IT BETTER.
THERE'S A REAL TRUTH TO THAT.
A LOT OF FOLKS ARE EXCITED ABOUT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WE'VE
GOT TO BRING IN NEW JOBS AND
PROVIDE INCENTIVES.
YES, WE DO.
BUT TRUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STARTS WITH EDUCATING OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU
MORE.
I THINK THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION IS
TRULY A CORNERSTONE OF OUR
DEMOCRACY.
WITHOUT A STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICT, IT'S HARD FOR US TO
PROVIDE A GOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL
STUDENTS.
>> Tony: I COULDN'T AGREE WITH
YOU MORE.
NOW, WHEN WAS MECK ED FORMED?
>> OFFICIALLY FORMED IN 2006.
THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR
DIFFERENT EDUCATION GROUPS IN
OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALL CAME
TOGETHER AND BECAME ONE.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY CALLED
MECKLENBURG CITIZENS FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION.
3 A FEW YEARS AGO THAT MORPHED
INTO MECK ED AND THAT'S WHERE WE
ARE.
>> ARE YOU WORKING WITH K
THROUGH 12?
>> VERY MUCH SO.
WE WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT,
THE SCHOOL BOARD AND CENTRAL
PIEDMONT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
OFFICIALS AS WELL.
>> WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
ON YOUR WEBSITE, I TOOK A LOOK
BEFORE HE CAME IN HERE, IT SAYS
OUR ROLE IS TO INFORM THE
COMMUNITY.
TELL US HOW YOU INFORM THE
COMMUNITY.
>> WE INFORM THE COMMUNITY ON A
WEEKLY BASIS WITH A NEWSLETTER
WE PUT TOGETHER EACH WEEK.
IT COMES OUT EVERY WEDNESDAY
MORNING.
THE NEWSLETTER UPDATES THE
CITIZENS WHO GET OUR NEWSLETTER
ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION ISSUES ON
A LOCAL LEVEL, ON A STATE LEVEL,
AND ALSO ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
OUR WEBSITE IS ALSO A SOURCE OF
INFORMATION, UPDATED
INFORMATION, WHERE YOU CAN FIND
OUT ALL KIND OF DATA ON OUR
PUBLIC AND CHARTERS SCHOOLS WITH
A NUMBER OF CRITERIA.
THE WEBSITE IS OUR VIRTUAL
INFORMATION CENTER.
>> Tony: THE BEST WAY TO GET
THERE WWW.MECKED.ORG.
>> OR GOOGLE MECK ED IN
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.
IT'S A GOOD WEBSITE AND THAT'S A
GOOD WAY TO INFORM PEOPLE.
DO YOU WORK WITH THE PARENT
ORGANIZATIONS, PARENT TEACHER
ORGANIZATIONS?
>> WE DO. I THINK PARENTS ARE
ONE OF OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
THE CHARLOTTE CHAMBER IS A
STAKEHOLDER, CHARLOTTE WORKS IS
A STAKEHOLDER GROUP.
4 WE'RE LOOKED AT AS THE EXPERT
IN EDUCATION BUT WE'RE ALSO
NONPARTISAN AND OBJECTIVE.
>> AND ALSO NONPROFIT.
>> NONPROFIT.
>> TELL US HOW YOU FUND
YOURSELF.
>> WE RECEIVE NO FUNDING FROM
ANY PUBLIC ENTITIES.
ALL OUR FUNDING COMES FROM
PRIVATE DONATIONS, CORPORATIONS,
OUR BANKS ARE VERY GENEROUS TO
US.
WE ALSO GET DONATIONS FROM
INDIVIDUAL DONORS AND WRITE
GRANTS.
>> YOU DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT.
>> WE WORK AT IT EVERY DAY.
>> YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
>> $650,000.
>> YOU HAVE TO RAISE THAT EVERY
YEAR BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE AN
ENDOWMENT.
>> ABSOLUTELY WE RAISE IT EVERY
YEAR.
>> Tony: WHEN YOU TALK TO BANKS
AND INDIVIDUALS AND OTHERS AND
YOU SAY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT,
WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU, TELL US
BASICALLY ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS
THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE
THINGS.
>> WE DO A NUMBER OF THINGS.
I THINK THE THING THAT MIGHT BE
MOST PERTINENT IS THE DIRECT
STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAMS,
CAREER PATHWAYS, FORMERLY MECK
TECH.
THE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM IS
BASED ON THE HARVARD GRADUATE
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.
IN 2011 THEY CAME OUT WITH
PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY.
PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY SAID WE
AS A COUNTRY NEED TO THINK
DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW WE PROVIDE
K12 EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUTH.
AND WHILE, WITH THE BEST OF
INTENTIONS OVER THE PAST 40 5
YEARS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
COLLEGE.
A FOUR-YEAR TRADITIONAL LIBERAL
ARTS DEGREE BUT THE NUMBERS TELL
US SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
THE PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY
REPORT SAYS WE NEED TO THINK
DIFFERENTLY, WE NEED TO BEHAVE
DEFINITELY AND TALK DIFFERENTLY.
INSTEAD OF A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE
FOR ALL, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT
POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.
THE FOUR-YEAR DEGREE, THEY DON'T
HAVE THE MONEY, DON'T HAVE THE
SUPPORT, A NUMBER OF INCHES.
AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL I WOULD GRADUATE 500
TO 600 KIDS EVERY JUNE AND
PROBABLY 200 OF THOSE DIDN'T
HAVE A GOOD CAREER PATHWAY IN
PLACE.
NOW, PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY ALSO
SAYS THAT FOR US TO SUCCEED WITH
THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF POST
SECONDARY FOR ALL, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE
STILL?
HIGH SCHOOL, THAT THEY HAVE
WORKPLACE WORKING OPPORTUNITIES,
CODE FOR INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICE
SIPS, JOB SHADOWING, HAVING
PEOPLE WERE BUSINESSES PARTNER
WITH SCHOOLS, HAVING SCHOOLS
PARTNER WITH THE BUSINESSES.
ONE HIGH SCHOOL IN CHARLOTTE HAS
BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
OLYMPIC HIGH SCHOOL.
OLYMPIC IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE YEARS
AGO THEY HAD A GRANT TO BREAK
INTO FIVE SMALL SCHOOLS, A
VISIONARY PRINCIPAL WHO TOLD
STAFF TO MAKE BUSINESS
PARTNERSHIPS AND SIEMENS IS THE
STORY THAT CENTRAL PIEDMONT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS INVOLVED
WITH.
STUDENTS FROM OLYMPIC GO ON TO
BECOME APPRENTICES AND GO TO THE
UNIVERSITY TO FINISH THEIR
DEGREE.
6 IT'S THE EUROPEAN STORY.
>> Tony: IT'S A WONDERFUL MODEL.
MORE AN MORE AMERICAN COMPANIES
ARE WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING
WITH THOSE EUROPEAN BASED
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND
REPRESENT INDICATING IT.
THEY MAY NOT CALL IT THE SAME
THING.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM IS
INTENDED TO DO.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT
TWO SCHOOLS, AND OUR FOLKS WORK
IN THE SCHOOL FOR THE PRINCIPAL
WITH THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO GO
OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BRING
BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS INTO THE
SCHOOL.
>> Tony: THEY'RE REACHING THOSE
200 GRADUATES THAT YOU KNEW YOU
WERE GOING TO LOSE BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T HAVE A PATHWAY AND
THEY'RE HELPING THEM FIGURE OUT
A CAREER PATHWAY.
>> CORRECT.
>> Tony: RIGHT.
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS THEY'RE CONNECTING THEM WITH
BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF WORK
BASED LEARNING, WHETHER AN
INTERNSHIP OR WHATEVER.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IS
CHANGING THAT CULTURE THAT MANY
OF OUR BUSINESSES SEE THEIR ROLE
IN HELPING K12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I THINK THEY SEE THEIR ROLE MORE
AS HELPING SCHOOLS AS AN ACT OF
CHARITY.
THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING
BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO
DO.
THEY USED TO WRITE A CHECK TO
THE SCHOOL BUT WE'RE ASKING
BUSINESSES TO THINK DIFFERENTLY.
THIS ISN'T CHARITY BUT THIS IS
REALLY DEVELOPING YOUR 21st
CENTURY WORKFORCE.
I COULD TELL YOU STORY AFTER 7
STORY ABOUT STUDENTS DRIFTING
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT THEY WERE DOING, WE GOT
THEM PLACED IN AN INTERNSHIP AND
THEY BLOSSOMED AND KNOW WHAT
THEIR PATHWAY WILL BE.
ONE STUDENT AT VANCE IS SO
FOCUSED AND ENROLLING IN THE
MECK ELECTRONIC PROGRAM AND THEN
GOING TO UNC CHARLOTTE AND GET
AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT THAT
NOLL HE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> YOU CAN GO TO CAREER SEMINARS
AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THIS OR THAT BUT THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE BEING ON THE SHOP FLOOR,
BEING IN THE BUSINESS ITSELF.
FROM THE BUSINESS POINT OF VIEW
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET, 3
TO 3.5 MILLION JOBS ARE UNFILLED
BECAUSE OF LACK OF SKILLED
WORKERS, SO EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING
TO ME, HOW WITH WE GET A
RELIABLE SUPPLY OF SKILLED
WORKERS?
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS IS GET
INVOLVED IT WITH EDUCATION,
SUPPORT AND PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS.
SERVE ON THE ADVISORY ECONOMIES
TO THE CURRICULUM IS RELEVANT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE OUR
NEW SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
MORRISON, IS A BIG PROPONENT OF
CTE, CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION,
CAREER ACADEMIES AND YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH THE NATIONAL
ACADEMY OF FOUNDATION AND THESE
CAREER ACADEMIESES IN ARE IN IN
A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS.
SINCE WE HAVE HOPEFULLY SOME
BUSINESS LEADERS WATCHING THIS
SHOW, I HOPE THEY'LL -- MAYBE
LISTEN TO WHAT THE EUROPEANS ARE
DOING BECAUSE THEY'VE EMBRACED
THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF WORKPLACE
LEARNING FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE
15, 16, 17 YEARS OLD.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS
8 GETTING PAST HR FOLKS.
HR FOLKS THINK IF THEY'RE NOT 18
THEY CAN'T COME TO OUR BUSINESS
AND WORK OR ANYTHING.
IN EUROPE, THEY DO.
DURING THE GREAT RECESSION IN
GERMANY, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
WENT DOWN, NOT UP, BECAUSE KIDS
ARE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL WITH
A SKILL SET.
>> Tony: THEY ALSO IN GERMANY,
INSTEAD OF LAYING PEOPLE OFF,
THEY GIVE FURLOUGHS.
THEY TRY TO HANG ON TO THEM
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE ECONOMY
WILL COME BACK AND THEY HAVE NOT
LOST THEIR BEST SKILLED WORKERS.
>> RIGHT.
>> Tony: THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL
ABOUT.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYERS WORKING
TOGETHER.
AND WE CAN DO IT.
>> YES.
>> Tony: I WANT TO BACK TO ONE
OTHER THING.
YOU SAID IT'S TIME WE THINK
DIFFERENTLY AND EDUCATE
DIFFERENTLY AND NOT EVERYBODY
NEEDS TO GO TO A FOUR-YEAR
SCHOOL.
THAT WAS IN THE HARVARD STUDY.
WE'RE A CAREER COLLEGE AND
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
BUT HOW DO YOU -- HOW ARE YOU
TRYING TO INFORM AND EDUCATE
PARENTS THAT THERE ARE OTHER
WAYS THEIR STUDENTS -- AND
REASONABLE WAYS STUDENTS CAN BE
--
>> I THINK YOUR POINT IS -- YOUR
QUESTION IS A GREAT ONE BECAUSE
MANY PARENTS HAVE THIS
ILL-INFORMED BELIEF IF YOUR
CHILD DOESN'T GO TO A FOUR-YEAR
LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL, THEY'RE
SOMEHOW GOING TO A SECOND TIER
SCHOOL.
I WOULD SAY THAT NOTHING COULD
BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
9 AND IT REQUIRES THOSE
ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE PARENTS, HELPING THEM TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE WORKFORCE
FOR TOMORROW IS A DIFFERENT
WORKFORCE.
YOU KNOW THIS BUT THERE'S
RESEARCH AFTER RESEARCH OF
PEOPLE COMING HOME WITH
FOUR-YEAR DEGREES IN
COMMUNICATIONS OR PSYCHOLOGY OR
OTHER DIPLOMAS WHERE THERE MAY
NOT BE JOBS.
THEY WORK AS A WAITER THEN COME
IN WITH YOU AT AGE 28.
>> WE HAVE 27% OF STUDENTS THAT
HAVE BACHELORS DEGREES AND COME
BACK TO GET SKILLS.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
LIBERAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES,
UNLESS YOU WANT A REAL JOB.
IF YOU WANT A JOB, YOU BETTER BE
ABLE TO GET A SKILL THAT GOES
WITH IT.
>> THERE'S A PLACE FOR
EVERYTHING.
>> YEAH, THERES.
>> WE NEED TO BE MORE REALISTIC
NOW AND HELP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CAREER
OPTIONS ARE.
THE OTHER BEAUTY OF GIVING
STUDENTS WORKPLACE LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES WHEN STILL IN HIGH
SCHOOL IS THEY GET FOCUSED
AGAIN.
THEY REALLY GET FOCUSED AND
UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S RELEVANT FOR
THEM TO DO READING AND MATH, I
DIDN'T SCIENCE AND MATH ARE
IMPORTANT.
WHY IT'S CRITICAL TO LEARN THESE
SKILLS, BECAUSE THEY'LL
TRANSLATE TO THE WORKFORCE.
>> Tony: AND THAT PREVENTS
DROPOUTS.
OUR DROPOUT RATE IN THIS NATION
IS ABOUT 30%.
YOU CAN'T SUSTAIN SOCIETY WITH
30% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T MAKE
IT BECAUSE THEN YOU GOT TO 10
SUPPORT THEM AND STUDENTS NEED
HOPE.
>> THE WORKPLACE LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES GIVE HOPE.
THEY'RE INTERNSHIPS, THINGS
THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
IT JUST GIVES THEM HOPE FOR THE
FUTURE.
>> WHO DO PARENTS TELL THEIR
CHILDREN ABOUT THIS?
HOW DO THE CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT
IT?
HOW CAN THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE.
>> WE'RE IN TWO SCHOOLS.
FIRST OF ALL I NEED TO SAY
OLYMPIC HIGH SCHOOL DOES A GOOD
JOB BUT THEY GOT A JUMP ON
EVERYBODY BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN
DOING THIS FIVE YEARS.
WE'RE AT VANCE HIGH SCHOOL AND
HARDING HIGH SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE TWO SCHOOLS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GAIN FUNDING TO
HAVE MORE CAREER PATHWAYS
ADVISORS IN MORE SCHOOLS.
PARENTS NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS.
PARENTS NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR
THEIR CHILDREN AND FIND OUT THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY CHILD TO
HAVE AN INTERNSHIP.
WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
MY CHILD TO HAVE A CAREER
SHADOWING OPPORTUNITY.
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOLS.
YOU'RE SIX CAMPUSES BUT CNS IS
GETTING READY TO ROLL OUT HIGH
SCHOOL THAT SERVE AT HUBS FOR
DIFFERENT CAREER TECHNICAL
EDUCATION AREAS.
>> Tony: RIGHT.
>> VERY EXCITING.
>> Tony: IN FACT, THEY'RE ALSO
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
TECHNICAL ACADEMIES ON OUR
CAMPUSES AND THEY WANT TO
REPLICATE THE K TO MIDDLE
COLLEGE, THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR
HERE.
IT'S THE HIGHEST ACHIEVING HIGH
SCHOOL IN NORTH CAROLINA AND I
11 AGREE, HEATH MORRISON IS A
GREAT PARTNER.
>> HE'S REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO
THE COMMUNITY.
HE DID ALL THOSE SURVEYS AND THE
INFORMATION HE RECEIVED FROM THE
SURVEYS IS WHAT HE'S ASKING THE
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR IN THAT
CAPITAL PLAN.
NEVER BEFORE HAVE WE HAD THE
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT ROLL OUT
THE PLAN FOR FUTURE SCHOOLS
BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE
STUDENTS RATHER THAN BRICK AND
MORTAR.
>> Tony: RIGHT.
>> WHICH IS REALLY ENCOURAGING.
>> Tony: RIGHT.
IT'S VERY REFRESHING.
I KNOW HE'S HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS
AN ADVOCATE OR A CHAMPION I
THINK IT WAS.
NOW, ALSO, ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU
HAVE EXPLAINED HOW YOU INFORM
THE COMMUNITY AND HOW -- YOU
ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT, TEACHERS OF
EXCELLENCE.
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EVENTS.
WE DO ONE EVENT, TEACHES OF
EXCELLENCE WHICH IS COMING UP
MAY 8th.
WE WORK WITH CNS TO IDENTIFY THE
TOP 25 TEACHERS IN THE DISTRICT
WHICH IS DIFFICULT.
THERE ARE MANY GREAT TEACHERS.
WE HAVE AN EVENT TO RECOGNIZE
THESE TEACHERS, TO GIVE THEM A
PLAQUE, GIVE THEM SOME PRIZES,
SOME RECOGNITION.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT'S ALSO
INTENDED TO BE A PLATFORM FOR US
TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND
THAT WE MUST INVEST IN TEACHERS.
WE MUST VALUE THE TEACHING
PROFESSION.
WE MUST PAY TEACHERS WHAT
THEY'RE WORTH AND THE TEACHING
PROFESSION AND STATISTICS AREN'T
ENCOURAGING.
12 50% OF TEACHERS LEAVE THE
PROFESSION IN THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP OUR
COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WE MUST
INVEST IN OUR TEACHERS AND
SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS.
IN SEPTEMBER WE DO A WHAT'S
POSSIBLE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
BREAKFAST WHERE WE BRING A
KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
3 OR 400 PEOPLE TOGETHER AND
STIMULATE CONVERSATION ABOUT
INFORMING AND TRANSFORMING AND
WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
THAT'S ANOTHER BIG EVENT.
WE DO A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY
CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR AROUND DIFFERENT TOPICS.
WE'VE DONE CHARTER SCHOOLS,
COMMON CORE ASSESSMENT.
WE'RE DOING ONE ON SCHOOL
SAFETY.
A NUMBER OF ISSUES AS THEY COME
UP.
WE TRY TO BE NIMBLE AND TALK
ABOUT THE TOPICS OF MOST
INTEREST AT THE TIME.
>> Tony: YOU BRING AUTOPSY GOOD
POINT.
YOU'RE A NONPROFIT CHAMPION OF
EDUCATION, PRIMARILY K THROUGH
12 BUT YOU WANT TO SEE THE
PATHWAYS TO CAREER.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
WHAT ABOUT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS?
DO YOU WORK WITH THEM.
>>> WE WORK WITH CHARTER
SCHOOLS, THEY'RE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE DON'T WORK WITH PRIVATE
SCHOOLS BUT WE WORK WITH CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
WE HAD LEADERS OF THE CHARTER
SCHOOLS COME AND TALK ABOUT
THEIR SCHOOLS.
THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION
ABOUT THEM.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE FULLY
UNDERSTAND THEY'RE PUBLIC 13
SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS LIKE
YOU AND ME.
BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF
CHARTER SCHOOLS, THERE'S SOME
CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE A
MISSION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO
SERVE ALL KIDS.
OTHERS DON'T NECESSARILY SERVE
ALL KIDS.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
DYNAMICS.
THERE'S ALSO INTERESTING
DYNAMICS TAKING PLACE WHERE WE
HAVE A NUMBER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
THAT ARE MOVING INTO OUR STATE
THAT ARE BACKED BY FOR PROFIT
NATIONAL COMPANIES.
THIS CREATED INTERESTING
DIALOGUE.
>> THE PARENT SAYS I WANT TO
LOOK AT CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHAT
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
>> COME TO OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF
THEM, WE HAVE THEIR TEST SCORES,
WE HAVE THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS.
WE HAVE THEIR RECOGNITIONS.
PROBABLY EVERYTHING YOU WOULD
WANT TO KNOW AND A LINK TO THEIR
SITES.
>> Tony: DO YOU THINK YOUR
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM WOULD
INCLUDE ALSO CHARTER SCHOOLS?
>> IT DOESN'T AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE WORKING PRIMARILY WITH
CNS.
>> Tony: BUT IF YOU GET THE
MONEY, YOU COULD EXPAND IT.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO TALK TO MY
BOARD, BUT WE COULD HAVE THE
CONVERSATION.
>> Tony: IT SAYS LAST, WE CREATE
PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS' SUCCESS.
THAT CAREER PATHWAY IS A PERFECT
ONE.
THE OTHER THING IS I KNOW YOU
TALKED -- IT'S BECOME CRITICAL
THAT WE DON'T LIVE IN SILOS.
THE UNIVERSITY IS DOING A 14
WONDERFUL JOB, THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, PRIVATE UNITS.
WE'RE TALKING -- UNIVERSITIES,
WE'RE TALKING TO EACH OTHER MORE
THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> I'M A PART OF THE CNS TASK
FORCE FOR THE CAREER AND COLLEGE
READINESS AND ON OUR TASK FORCE
ARE FOLKS FROM CENTRAL PIEDMONT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, UNC CHARLOTTE
AND THEY HAVE HELPED US
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PATHWAYS
THAT YOU ALL NOW, THE PROGRAM
THAT YOU HAVE WHERE THE STUDENTS
COME TO CP TWO YEARS, BOOM,
RIGHT TO UNC CHARLOTTE.
THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGY.
WE CAN'T WORK IN SILOS, WE HAVE
TO WORK TOGETHER.
>> Tony: YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
WELL, ALSO IN THAT CAREER AND
COLLEGE PATHWAYS, THAT'S ONE OF
THE BEST THINGS THAT'S COME OUT
OF STATE GOVERNMENT IN MY 20
PLUS YEARS HERE IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
AND SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR
A MOMENT.
NOW, SO STUDENTS WHO WANTING TO
-- THEY KNOW THEY'RE GETTING
READY TO GO TO A UNIVERSITY.
SORT OF A COLLEGE PREP AREA.
AND THEY CAN TAKE CERTAIN
CLASSES THAT LEAD TOWARD THAT
AND THEY GET DUAL CREDIT AND
IT'S FREE, EXCEPT FOR THE
TEXTBOOKS AND CNS MIGHT PICK UP
--
>> I'M NOT SURE.
>> Tony: PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THAT.
IT GIVES THEM AN ADVANCE AND
THEY CAN HAVE A YEAR OR TWO
YEARS OF COLLEGE UNDER THEIR
BELT BEFORE LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL.
IF THEY WANT TO BE CAREER READY,
TECHNICAL TRAINING, SAME
SITUATION.
WE'RE SEEING -- WE'VE GOT
SOMEWHERE I THINK CLOSE TO 700
15 STUDENTS NOW TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THAT.
BUT THE MORE WE CAN ENCOURAGE
YOU TO COMMUNICATE, BECAUSE
YOU'RE THE BIG COMMUNICATOR, TO
PARENTS AND STUDENTS, THE BETTER
OFF WE'LL BE.
>> I THINK ONE THING YOUR FOLKS
ARE DOING, MAY 8th, A BRINGING
IN THE CNS PRINCIPALS AND SHE'S
INVITED ME AND A COUPLE OTHERS
TO TALK TO THE PRINCIPALS.
I USED TO BE A CNS PRINCIPAL SO
I STILL HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP
WITH MANY OF THEM TO HELP THEM
TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT ALL THESE
DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE
THERE.
I DON'T THINK THEY ALL FULLY
UNDERSTAND, SO THE MORE WE CAN
COMMUNICATE, THE FACT THAT
CENTRAL PIEDMONT IS AT WTVI IS
HELPFUL, IT'S A COMMUNICATION
TOOL TO TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS.
>> Tony: IT'S THE REASON FOR
THIS PROGRAM IS THAT.
AND TO HELP THE PUBLIC TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HIGHER EDUCATION
AND K THROUGH 12 CAN OFFER.
>> AS I THINK ABOUT OUR
CONVERSATION, THE REAL MESSAGE
IS THAT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR
COUNTRY, EVERY STUDENT THAT
GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL MUST
HAVE SOME TYPE OF POST SECONDARY
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IS SIMPLY
NOT ENOUGH.
I'M CONVINCED STUDENTS, WHILE
STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL WHO DON'T
KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND
MAY BE CONFUSED OR DON'T HAVE A
GOOD PATH, IT'S IN EVERYBODY'S
BEST INTEREST WE HELP THEM FORM
THAT CAREER PATHWAY.
IF WE CAN GET OUR BUSINESSES TO
BECOME MORE INVOLVED THIS THE
SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE WORKPLACE
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STUDENTS WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
16 THE SUCCESS COULD BE
UNLIMITED.
>> Tony: ABSOLUTELY.
AND THEY COULD SERVE AS
ADVISORS.
WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO GET ADVISE
FROM THE BUSINESS INDUSTRY.
IT KEEPS OUR CURRICULUM
RELEVANT.
THE FASTER WE CAN GET A STUDENT
TO HELP SET A GOAL FOR HIMSELF
OR HERSELF, AND THAT'S A CAREER
GOAL, THE MORE LIKELY THEY'LL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> IT'S INTERESTING YOU SAY
THAT.
I LEARNED AS A HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL YOU COULDN'T MAKE
ANYBODY DO ANYTHING AND IF YOU
CAN MOTIVATE PEOPLE
INTRINSICALLY AS TO WHY IT'S IN
A THEIR BEST INTEREST THEY'RE
MORE LIKELY TO BE MOTIVATED THAN
TO TELL THEM, YOU MUST DO THIS.
ESPECIALLY FOR A KID WHO COMES
FROM A FAMILY THAT DOESN'T HAVE
THE WHEREWITHAL OR THE FINANCIAL
RESOURCES.
THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN A LOT OF
TIMES AND IT'S UP TO THE ADULTS
TO PROVIDE THAT GUIDANCE.
>> Tony: YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
BACK TO THE PATHWAYS, THERE ARE
MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO CAREER
SUCCESS AND THE MORE CLEARLY WE
OUTLINE THOSE PATH WAYS TO
STUDENTS AND THEIR OPTIONS, THE
MORE LIKELY THEY WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL.
>> AND THE CHARLOTTE ECONOMY IS
STILL BOOMING.
WE'VE GOT ADVANCED
MANUFACTURING, WE'VE GOT
FINANCE, WE'VE GOT IT, WE'VE GOT
ENERGY.
WE'VE GOT ALL THESE THINGS
BOOMING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IF
WE COULD GET THESE FOLKS TO COME
TOGETHER AND PARTNER, AND DON'T
SEE IT AS CHARITY BUT DEVELOPING
YOUR WORKFORCE.
17
>> Tony: IT'S A VIABLE OPTION
AND THAT'S WHERE THE JOBS ARE.
YOU WERE A SPEAKER AT ONE OF OUR
GLOBAL COMPETITIVE -- WE HAVE A
GLOBAL VISION OF BECOMING --
THIS IS THE CHARLOTTE REGION,
BECOMING A NEW GLOBAL HUB OF
COMMERCE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT
MORE.
MORE JOBS HERE, MORE COMPANIES.
WE'RE GOING TO BROADEN OUR
ECONOMIC BASE INTO MANUFACTURING
AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND IN
ADDITION TO FINANCE AND ENERGY
AND HEALTHCARE.
WELL.
>> THOSE TWO SUMMITS WERE GREAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THEY WERE WONDERFUL.
>> Tony: WE HAVE TO HAVE A
ECONOMIC VISION OR WE DON'T KNOW
WHERE WE'RE GOING.
YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO SPEND
TIME WITH.
IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO BE WITH YOU.
I LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND MOST
OF ALL YOUR HEART AND PASSION
FOR STUDENTS' SUCCESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED OUR
SHOW AND I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK
AND WATCH THE NEXT ONE.