Tennessee Launches Task Force of State Leaders to Strengthen Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness in K-12 Education

Tuesday, March 22, 2016 | 01:26pm

NASHVILLE - Education Commissioner Candice McQueen unveiled today a roster of state business, education, and community leaders to serve on the Career Forward Task Force, a group designed to examine and explore ways to better engage students in their academic preparation, personal and social development, and workplace readiness.

“Many students are still not adequately prepared to take advantage of opportunities after high school graduation,” McQueen said. “This group of leaders will bring diverse perspectives as we discuss concrete ways we can strengthen the integration of postsecondary and workforce readiness throughout K-12 education, ultimately preparing our students to meet the demands of the real world.”

The task force includes a broad spectrum of stakeholders from business, education, government, and communities across the state. The group will meet monthly throughout the spring and summer to learn, listen, discuss, and craft recommendations to strengthen the connection between K-12 education, postsecondary, and the workforce. They will work to define career readiness and the milestones necessary to prepare a student, as well as developing recommendations to align current workforce needs across the education spectrum.

The task force will include the following members:

  • Burns Phillips, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development
  • Mike Krause, Executive Director, Tennessee Promise and Drive to 55
  • Sara Heyburn, Executive Director, Tennessee State Board of Education
  • Russ Deaton, Interim Executive Director, Tennessee Higher Education Commission
  • Ted Townsend, Chief of Staff, Department of Economic and Community Development
  • James King, Vice Chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents
  • Tristan Denley, Vice Chancellor, Tennessee Board of Regents
  • Eddie Pruett, Director of Schools, Gibson County Special Schools
  • Jerry Boyd, Director of Schools, Putnam County Schools
  • John Faulconer, Principal, Knox County Schools
  • Arlette Robinson, Career and Technical Education Director, Bradley County Schools
  • Susan Farris, Career and Technical Education Director, Lauderdale County Schools
  • Stacey Kizer, Information Technology teacher, Williamson County Schools
  • Celeste Carruthers, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Tennessee
  • Mark Norris, Senate Majority Leader, Tennessee General Assembly
  • Harry Brooks, Chairman, House Education Committee, Tennessee General Assembly
  • John Forgety, Chairman, House Education Committee, Tennessee General Assembly
  • Jeff Frazier, Principal and Dean, Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Eastman Chemical
  • Cal Wray, Executive Director, Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council
  • Suzanne Payne, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Unum
  • Tony Cates, Human Resources Manager, Gestamp
  • Coral Getino, Parent, Knox County Schools
  • Kristina McClure, Parent, Hamilton County Schools
  • Catherine English, Student, Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt University
  • Debbie Shedden, Tennessee School Board Association President, Hawkins County School Board
  • Kristen McGraner, Executive Director, STEM Prep Academy, Metro Nashville Public Schools
  • Missy Blissard, School Counselor, Rutherford County Schools
  • Jade Grieve, Senior Director, America Achieves
  • Becca Leech, Special Education teacher, Warren County Schools

The task force will issue a report on its findings with associated recommendations this fall. The first meeting of the task force will convene on March 24 and will focus on national and international practices and models on postsecondary and career readiness and the stakeholders critical to achieving postsecondary and career readiness.

For more information, contact Ashley Ball at (615) 532-6260 or Ashley.M.Ball@tn.gov.