IN Norwin Winter 2016 | Page 45

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