Where will I get my future employees? What are the schools doing to prepare the workers I will need? How can my business get involved? With these questions in mind, The Education Foundation’s 14th annual Business Education Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 28 will focus on “Building the Pipeline” within our public schools so that all students graduate equipped with the knowledge and skills they will need for further education or direct entry into the workforce.

The Summit will go from 7-11 a.m.

The Education Foundation has been working with the region’s businesses, school districts and Ford Motor Company Fund to study and adapt successful national models and create world class schools in this region. This year’s summit will feature Rick Delano, co-developer of the Ford Motor Company's Next Generation Learning Community national network. Delano will outline why the nine communities in the Ford network have been successful in transforming their schools, what this has meant to students and employers and why Charleston has been invited into the network.

“The Ford Next Generation Learning Communities program is not just about greater student achievement. Motivating 9th and 10th graders to learn by allowing them to choose a career field in which to study is a very powerful ‘on’ button that the community can push. Creating this type of opportunity for students is a net positive, but there is also value to the community in workforce development,” Delano said.

Building on the Ford Motor Company's national model, representatives of some of the trident region’s major employers and schools will describe innovative ways they have partnered with schools to make sure that students graduate with 21st century workforce skills.

Featured Speakers:

-Lucy Beckham, Principal, Wando High School, 2010 National High School Principal of the Year

-Kris Busch, Director, BAE Systems

-Shanda Johnson, Atlantic K-12 Outreach Coordinator, SPAWAR

-Carl Mittelstadt, Innovation Leader, BP America Cooper River Plant

-David Ramey, Director, Marking and Communications, LS3P ASSOCIATES LTD.

A highlight of the summit will be the announcement of The Zucker Family Champions for Education Award for extraordinary leadership in bringing business and education together to advance student learning. Anita Zucker will make the presentation to this year’s recipient. The program will also feature the annual Education-Business Partnership Awards bestowed by the College of Charleston in conjunction with The Education Foundation in recognition of exemplary cooperation of schools and businesses to advance student career preparation.

The Business Education Summit will be held at The College Center at Trident Technical College. The cost is $80, $50 educators and includes full breakfast. For more information or to register visit www.charlestonchamber.net.