Staff report
If education is a communal goal then what is the role of community in education?
That is the central question behind the Northern Kentucky Education Council’s ‘FIND YOUR PLACE’ gathering on October 31 at Thomas More University.
Part of its Fall Council Meeting and Coalition Launch, the Council is inviting the community to the conversation. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“Education is a communal goal,” said Polly Page, executive director of the Council. “We are fortunate that our community, Northern Kentucky, is unique in our ability to come together and collaborate. By connecting, we have the ability to make a meaningful difference.
“Now more than ever, a shared investment is critical to ensure that each of our youth is successful in order for our community to continue to thrive.”
Schools and teachers face multiple challenges outside the normal realm of teaching and learning, she said. More than 67% of NKy students are from low-income homes. Schools have to have medical and dental clinics and provide students three meals a day, filling backpacks with food for the weekends and stocking in-school food pantries for families.
The pressures on children are well documented: NKY has the highest rate of children in foster care and Kentucky has the highest rate of women who are incarcerated; teen suicide is on the rise and the drug epidemic continues to wreak havoc on our families and our workforce.
Educators have to respond, Page said. They are held to high standards in the classroom while they must also understand and provide trauma-sensitive classrooms.
“Schools have tried to bridge the gap and fill the void that exists so that children can learn and achieve,” Page said. “It is time for a groundswell from our community to support our youth.”
And that’s where “Finding Your Place” comes in.
“We have challenges like every community across the nation,” Page said, “but our challenges are not insurmountable. We simply need the engagement of the entire community to address them.”
The NKY Chamber’s GROW initiative is focused on having each NKY graduate ready for college and career — and able to explore, engage and have experiential learning across six high-demand career sectors.
There are needs for mentors and career coaches and for opportunities to job shadow, intern and participate as apprentices.
“Changing how we work starts with changing how we think,” said Page. “There are students in all schools who need a competent and caring adult from the community in their life.”
There are jobs large and small but every piece of the puzzle matters. And there’s a piece for everyone.
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to help our youth achieve successful outcomes. If as a community we believe that our schools are about preparing people to work together to advance not just themselves but society, then we all need to find our place in making this a reality.”
The NKYEC event is an opportunity for the NKY community to rally around our schools and our youth. To FIND YOUR PLACE and REGISTER TODAY here. The event is free and open to the public.
