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Narrative:  In order to encourage open communications and cooperative efforts among the Jackson area's programs, the Chamber of Commerce's Work Force 2000 Development Committee asked the Chamber to sponsor an Education Summit. Twenty-five leaders in education, business and industry, including county school administrators, the high school principals, and the School Board Chairman, met to focus on areas to be worked on cooperatively.

Four goals were agreed upon during the summit, three of which "pertained directly to workforce development and Education Edge goals". They were:

1. Faculty in the Factory project, involving teachers in the workplace to observe the skills necessary to successfully hold a job.
2. Expansion of the Job Shadowing program involving several committee members as recruiters.
3. Obtaining feedback on why employers don't hire job applicants. A survey to be completed by participating companies over a 3-month period hopes to pinpoint specific reasons why applicants were not hired. Results are to be shared with the local school system, Jackson State Community College, the Tennessee Technology Center at Jackson, and area industries.
4. Parental involvement and awareness.

It Works!  The first sign of success was seen in "the spirit of cooperation and communication that was evident as soon as the 25 individuals of diverse interests entered the room". Every participant stayed for the entire summit, testifying to the commitment the community is making to education. Instead of a one-time event, as originally expected, participants wanted this summit to become an annual event. Three of the four groups are meeting monthly to work toward their particular goal and have periodic individual group evaluations.

Contact:
Shirley Jones
The Chamber, Jackson, Tennessee
197 Auditorium Street
PO Box 1904
Jackson, TN 38301-1904
(P)901-423-2200, ext. 12
(F)901-424-4860
E-mail: sajones@jacksontn.com