Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, "All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth."
Echoing that belief is the vision statement of the education council of Angelina County Vision 2020, which states, "Before 2020, Angelina County will have an educational system with high expectations that drives both jobs and incomes through creation of a balanced mix of career, technical and professionally trained citizens."
Lufkin Daily News file photo by Joel Andrews |
Lufkin Middle School sixth-graders Melissa James, left, and Courtney Aldredge explain their invention called ''The Wheel of Fantasy'' at the 2007 Angelina County Science & Technology Fair.
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Lufkin Daily News file photo by Joel Andrews |
Hudson ISD sixth-graders, from left, Barrett Ochoa, John Oliver and Francisco Gloara, examine a ''Magic Marble Machine'' at the 2007 Angelina County Science & Technology Fair.
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In the 2000 Census, Angelina County had 10 percent fewer individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.2 percent more individuals without a high school diploma, than the U.S. average.
Chaired by Bonnie Denmon, the committee has outlined six priorities to meet its goals:
* Develop academy centers on the Angelina College campus.
In partnership with the county's six school districts, this would pool vocational and technical program resources. Students would be bused to these "academies," which would allow students to graduate from high school with the possibility of both dual credit and vocational or technical certifications.
* Create a quality, well-staffed mentoring program for the county.
By developing and coordinating a mentoring program for all Angelina County school districts — with the specific needs of each district in mind — students would be paired with like career mentors. Retirees, or other interested citizens could also be used. A link on the Chamber's Web site could post mentoring opportunities for each of the districts.
* Develop job shadowing /internships countywide.
Research and develop summer internships/job shadowing opportunities for students during the summer. Coordinate with Workforce Solutions summer work program for disadvantaged youth.
Research possibility of developing a 3 week internship program, as part of the curricula, during the student's junior or senior year in partnership with the local business community.
Look at the creation of a Certificate of Employability that could be awarded students who complete certain requirements that might include an internship experience.
Research the development of a 8 week summer "internship" throughout the business community, where business would support the "hiring" of an intern 20 hours a week at $7/hour — cost of $1120, coordinating with the Workforce Solutions program or other possible.
* Create new academic achievement recognition opportunities.
Consider an awards dinner for honor students that might include scholarships from the business community.
Improve the promotion of the Chamber's Science & Technology Fair and work to match students with business mentors in the student's area of interest.
Develop methods of recognizing the students "in the middle," assuring they also get exposure to influential speakers, etc.
Recognize "Texas Scholars," who will graduate on the Texas Scholars recommended plan, with an appropriate certificate and recognition event.
Develop a method of assuring these students a priority in applying for available internships.
* Create a local multi-institutional teaching center.
Research feasibility and cost-effectiveness of creating a MITC on the Angelina College campus with 10 to 15 classrooms at a cost of around $4 million that would provide distance learning capabilities with major universities — allowing area students to take senior level college courses right here at home.
* Events/programs ongoing as the five top priorities move forward.
Work on teacher recognition and incentives by revamping the current "teachers of the year" program to better recognize the teaching profession.
Work on the possibility of developing a way of funding teacher mini-grants to pay for continuing education during the summer.
Work on developing an incentive package to help county districts attract new teachers — such as getting utility connections waived, low interest loans, merchant discounts, etc.
Develop a "Principal for a Day" program getting local business leaders to job shadow school principals for a day — to better educate business community on duties and responsibilities of our educators.
In addition to its priorities, the education council has also come up with strategies to be adopted by Vision 2020 partners.
For grades K to 12:
* Expect all of our young people to graduate from high school ready to go to work or attend a college or university. Provide remediation immediately at each grade level to ensure that students stay on track. Motivate all students to achieve at the highest level possible.
* Expect parents to be mentors and role models for their children. When parents cannot fulfill this role, community organizations including businesses, civic clubs, faith-based organizations, retirees, higher level students, and others will ensure that every student that needs a mentor will have one.
* Provide career academies that prepare students for meaningful careers and provide the foundation for the next level of skills training and education. Enlist business/school partnerships that clearly help with the skills required for specific Angelina County job sectors and provide internships, field trips to businesses, apprenticeship programs and other programs.
* Increase emphasis on math and science beginning at an early stage.
* Ensure that our young people graduate with basic life skills.
* Provide recognition and emphasis for academic achievements that parallel or exceed recognition for sports.
* Expect the community, parents and school boards to support the administration and teachers as they provide the discipline required for a safe learning environment.
* Recognize the importance of standardized testing for improving educational quality and learn to work within the system while achieving all our educational strategies.
* Expect parents and churches to teach sex education to teenagers. However, if parents and churches do not fulfill this role, expect sex education to be taught at school.
* Encourage and enable people with special skills and training to teach in the school system.
* Ensure continuous improvement, increased productivity and education processes that achieve academic excellence.
* Provide students entering the ninth grade with resources to determine possible career track(s) and thus influence class schedules.
For higher education:
* Create a Multi-Institutional Teaching Center in Angelina County that involves UT, Texas A&M, SFASU, and other educational institutions that would offer bachelor's, masters, and PhD level curriculum in Angelina County. Distance learning could be a component. A focus should be on opportunities for adults to continue their higher level education.
* Increase the number of slots available for nursing students at Angelina College to meet local requirements for these high paying jobs. Provide the incentives required to recruit and retain qualified teachers and expand the clinical facilities.
* Attract more male students at Angelina College. (currently 64 percent female, 36 percent male)
Skills training and Life-Long Learning:
* Increase productivity potential of young people and adults through education and skills training in alignment with employee and market needs. Ensure skills training is available to replace retiring or laid-off workers and provide workers for new businesses that are relocating, expanding, or starting up.
Employers should help educators and employees understand and respond to skill sets required for advancement.
* Provide training for parents with emphasis on changing attitudes, increasing communications, providing discipline, building character, and ensuring quality family time that will result in stable families and parenting skills.
Help parents to understand the competitive nature of the global economic system and the fact that continually increasing educational achievements provide the best opportunities for higher incomes.
* Increase the Functional adult literacy rate.
For pre-kindergarten:
* Ensure that every child in Angelina County enters kindergarten with the skills and knowledge needed.
In its 2006 progress report, Vision 2020 noted a decrease in the population gap of those without a high school diploma to within five percent of the U.S. average of adults 25 years old and older. In 2000, 28.7 percent did not have a high school diploma as compared to 21.3 percent in 2005.
Also noted in the report was the increase in the population gap of those with a bachelor's degree or higher to within 5 percentage points of the U.S. average of adults 25 years old and older. In 2000, 14.6 had earned a bachelor's degree or higher, as compared to 16.1 percent in 2005.
