Coalition boosts further education

Ever consider continuing your education?
The Jay County Education Success Coalition wants you to give it some thought.
“Each business, each person represented here is a mentor, an encourager to continue education,” John Jay Center executive director Cindy Cash told about 50 people who gathered Friday to launch the coalition.
Jay County is one of 22 selected this year to be part of the Indiana College Success Coalition, receiving a small grant for start-up costs. Because the state coalition defines “college” in the broadest terms — 4-year colleges, 2-year colleges, apprenticeships, technical certification, personal development, workforce development, and job training in the military — the Jay County group opted to call itself an “education success” coalition.
Businesses, service clubs, churches, industries, and individuals are invited to take part with a single purpose of promoting continued education.
“We would like 100 percent of our community to have enhanced job skills,” said Debbie Howell, student services adviser at John Jay.
Kathy Carpenter, one of eight members of the coalition’s steering committee, said the vision for the coalition grew directly out of the 20/20 visioning process that took place over the past few years. “The community picked the vision,” she said.
As stated by the 20/20 process, the vision is: “Over the next decade, Jay County will become a leader in the State of Indiana in lifelong learning. In partnership with community members, Jay County will prepare its residents to be successful learners and exceptional contributors, not only in our communities, but also in the world at large.”
Four goals were adopted by the coalition from the 20/20 vision:
•Raise awareness of the community’s role in encouraging and promoting education.
•Raise the reading and math skills of the youngest learners so that all Jay County third graders meet or exceed third grade level expectations.
•Inspire learners to achieve a high school diploma and pursue post-secondary education.
•Increase the number of educational and enrichment opportunities in Jay County and the number of people who take advantage of them.
The coalition hopes to increase the percentage of Jay County High School students going on to higher education the fall after graduation and increase the percentage who receive their degrees at the expected time.
“This is not the schools’ job to encourage our community to further their education,” said Howell. That’s the role the coalition plans to take on.
“They (students) need help being inspired,” said Cash. “Each one of you in this room can connect to people (about education).” In addition to Cash, Carpenter, and Howell, the steering committee includes Judy Garr, Vicki Tague, Doug Inman, Vicki Reitz, Tom Ferguson, Emily Roberts, and Reda Theurer-Miller.
Those interested in becoming part of the coalition are encouraged to go to www.johnjaycenter.com and click on “Partnerships.”
The coalition will meet again on May 11 and Sept. 14.[[In-content Ad]]