Floyd County College & Career Academy to host summit

(Media Release) Jobs, economic development, career preparation, and improvements in education are all hot topics in the news today.  Those key issues are also driving increased interest in the career academy charter school movement in the southeast.  The two topical themes will converge in Rome at the Lt. Governor's Business and Education Summit hosted by the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy and Georgia Northwestern Technical College, November 15 - 16.  The second annual summit will feature Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, Georgia Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Barge, plus business, industry and educational leaders from throughout the state.  The major business and education event will target key drivers of our economy and education's role in building vibrant communities.   

In announcing the plans for the event, College and Career Academy CEO Frank Pinson unveiled the summit's schedule that will include sessions addressing economic development priorities for communities on Thursday, while Friday will focus on career academy development.  "At the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy, we have experienced the powerful transformation that moves a community forward with our partnership between K-12 education, post-secondary education, and the business community," Pinson said. "It is our goal to enhance our program and its impact on Rome and Floyd County and to share our success with other communities in Georgia."

The summit will begin Thursday with a presentation from State Superintendent Dr. John Barge at 10:00 a.m.  Dr. Barge will be followed by a panel discussion led by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle at 10:30 a.m.  The panel will include business and industry leaders discussing Georgia's talent pipeline and the question, "are jobs out of people?"  Lt. Governor Cagle and Commissioner Ron Jackson of the Technical College System of Georgia will team-up to keynote a luncheon discussion at 11:45 a.m.  Thursday afternoon will be filled with work sessions from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. focusing on school curriculum, career pathways and addressing the skills gap.

Friday will be devoted to the enhancement and expansion of the charter academy movement.  Topics will included: making the most of charter, strategic planning for industry needs and setting priorities for Georgia's college and career academies.

Dr. Lynn Plunkett, superintendent of Floyd County Schools stated, "The College and Career Academy's community partnership with higher education, business and industry is providing exciting opportunities for young teens in our community, and it is a vital part of helping our school system provide a quality education for a quality life for all graduates." 

Dr. Craig McDaniel, president of Georgia Northwestern Technical College is looking forward to showcasing the value the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy brings to this community.   "The partnership between our schools and the businesses and industry leaders is making a difference."  McDaniel said, "The bulk of the future workforce for Georgia and this nation will have to possess technical skills and the process of providing graduates with those skills can best begin in a career academy."

Summit organizers anticipate over 200 participants from across the state will attend the two-day summit.