Dear Friend of MeckEd,
In the past two weeks, there were two impactful Charlotte events that placed the importance of education front and center. The first event was the second-annual TEDxCharlotteED conference, which highlighted 12 speakers who spoke to a crowd of more than 100 participants. While the topics were varied, the underlying theme was clear—innovation and creativity must be encouraged and implemented if America is to remain a leader in the international arena. And while technology is certainly an important part of all future education initiatives, effective teachers, equity, and access for all children are also critical factors tied to all future successes or failures.
The second event was the Global Competitiveness Summit II. The GCS II brought together more than 400 business leaders, educators, and elected officials to not only look into what the future may hold, but to also discuss how Charlotte is poised as a region to be a significant international economic player. There is one underlying question that no one seems to be able to answer at this time: Will the Charlotte region be able to provide a qualified workforce? Will our current PreK-12 and higher education systems currently in place be able to mesh effectively with the private sector and government to make the systemwide changes needed to ensure long-term economic prosperity and a reduction in the unemployment rate?
Read the complete February 27th e-Newsletter
