P
ennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Pedro
Rivera was the keynote speaker at The Westmoreland
County Forum for Workforce Development’s secondannual program and dinner September 14, 2016 at
Greensburg Country Club.
The Forum’s mission is to connect business and education
through coordinated opportunities, which will improve
workforce quality and economic development. The Forum
was launched In 2014 by several business-education leaders
under the auspices of the Economic Growth Connection of
Westmoreland.
Dr. William Kerr, Superintendent of Schools for Norwin
School District, served as Forum Chairman during its first
two years, helping to guide and grow the program to its
current roster of nearly 40 organizations. The participating
organizations include all 17 school districts in the county;
the three Career and Technology Centers; institutions of
higher learning; government; and major non-profit leaders in
Westmoreland County.
Dr. Jamie Piraino, Superintendent of the Franklin Regional
School District, was welcomed as the new Chairman of this
Forum.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Kerr stated that the Forum
is working to address the so-called “skills gap” and “skills
mismatch” to improve workforce quality and economic
development.
Norwin representatives at the dinner included, from left: Mr.
Joe Shigle, Norwin High School Assistant Principal; Mrs. Natalie
McCracken, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education;
Dr. Stacey Snyder, Director of Special Education and Student
Services; Dr. William Kerr, Superintendent; Mr. Tim Kotch, Assistant
Superintendent of Secondary Education; Mr. Troy Collier, Norwin
Middle School Assistant Principal. Dr. Kerr, Mr. Kotch, and
Mr. Collier all serve on one of three Forum task forces along with
three counselors (not pictured).
“The negative impact of the skills gap is two-fold,”
Dr. Kerr said. “First, people in the labor pool lack the skills
to meet the current and future needs of business and
industry. Second, many young adults are graduating
from college with large debts, but not necessarily the
in-demand skills that can help them acquire gainful and
meaningful employment with living wages.”
That is why the Forum’s work focuses on college and
career pathways for postsecondary education and training;
programs of study; effective teaching and learning; and
building business – education partnerships.
Forum Leadership. From left: Dr. Kerr; Mr. Jason Rigone, Director
of Planning & Development and Executive Director of Industrial
Development Corporation (WCIDC); Mr. Chad Amond, President,
Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Christine
Oldham, Superintendent, Ligonier Valley School District; new
Forum Chairman Dr. Jamie Piraino, Superintendent, Franklin
Regional School District; Dr. Tuesday Stanley, President,
Westmoreland County Community College; and Mr. Jim Smith,
President & CEO, Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland.
Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera and Dr. Tracy McNelly,
an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at
Saint Vincent College. Dr. McNelly was formerly Assistant
Superintendent of Secondary Education at Norwin.
Norwin | Winter 2016 | icmags.com 43
N orwin school district N e ws
Norwin Superintendent Honored as Outgoing Chairman
Nor win
Westmoreland County Forum for Workforce Development Second Annual Dinner