2026 Education Summit

Description

Join leaders from business, industry, education and our student community for a collaborative Summit focused on strengthening Wayne County's education-to-workforce pipeline.

* Agenda

* Welcome & Breakfast

* Welcome & Opening Remarks & Breakfast
   Speaker: Mr. Todd Walker, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce

* Wayne County Snapshot: Metrics, Demographics & Trends
   Speaker: Ms. Toni Blount, My Future NC - Regional Impact Manager, Southeast Prosperity Zone

• Presentation Topics: Population and demographic trends (age, income, mobility, military impact)
  • Educational attainment and pipeline data
  • Workforce participation and skills gaps
  • Strengths:
    • Industry clusters
    • Existing partnerships
    • Career pathways already working
  • Weaknesses / challenges:
    • Talent retention
    • Early literacy and readiness
    • Employer alignment with education

 * Workforce Development Alignment: Business & Education
       Speakers:  Dr. Kristie Sauls, Wayne Community College
                         Mr. Kevin Smith, Wayne County Public Schools
                         Dr. Jessie Tucker, UNC Health Wayne
                         

• Presentation Topics: 
  • Current Workforce Development and Credentialing Programs
  • Employer-identified skills gaps and hiring needs
  • Apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning models
  • Opportunities for expanded business engagement

* Early Childhood Education & Long-Term Workforce Impact

Speakers:  Ms. Valerie Wallace, Partnership for Children of Wayne County, Inc.
                  Ms. Selena Bennett, Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County, Inc.

• Presentation Topics: 
  • Early childhood education landscape in Wayne County
  • Kindergarten readiness and early literacy metrics
  • Access, affordability, and workforce challenges in childcare
  • Impact of early education on long-term educational and workforce outcomes

* Closing & Next Steps

Speakers: Mr. Todd Walker, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, President

• Presentation Topics: 
  • Summary of Key Themes and Commitments
  • Outline of Next Steps
  • Closing Remarks and Call to Action
  • What is one bold idea that Wayne County can grab to grow this forward?