Education Committee - LC Regional Chamber
Article By : Laura Dupont , Ph . D ldupont @ ccisd . net
If you are a regular reader of Momentum , you are likely aware of the efforts and successes of the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce in promoting economic growth in the area through partnerships between community , business , and government . What you may not realize is the great extent to which links with education form the foundation for all of these partnerships . Investments in education lead directly to innovation , new business ideas , workforce development , and an environment conducive to creativity that are all necessary if cities and regions want to be competitive in the future .
There is much talk recently about the Houston-Galveston I-45 Innovation Interstate ( i2 ) corridor . The LCRCC provides investments in innovation , business ideas , and workforce development to meet the needs and infrastructure necessary to provide an environment conducive to i2 success . Partnerships with higher education , including community colleges , helps these institutions stay at the forefront of economic development needs in key areas such as health care , bio-tech , aerospace , and upstream petrol-chemical .
Public schools ( preK-12 ) are also invaluable partners for community development . They serve as centers of learning . They employ residents , and they connect neighbors with one another . They are also part of a neighborhood ’ s physical fabric , impacting local housing markets and influencing the aesthetic character of a community .
Partnerships with all levels of education organizations helps grow a workforce that attracts investment , drives growth , and spurs innovation . Such partnerships also help support legislative , financial and expansion needs .
If you ’ ve lived in League City for a while , you know that the public school districts , as well as the higher education institutions , all work very hard to maintain partnerships with the community in order to meet the changing and increased educational demands of 21st century learners and workers . The Education Committee is always working on strengthening the interaction between business , ISDs , and higher education , and is seeking to support all types of collaboration between business , education , and the community . Over the coming months , the Committee will be identifying new opportunities to mobilize the business community to be more engaged partners and driving programs that will move education and workforce initiatives forward , fueling economic success .
The April issue of Momentum will be dedicated to education . Readers will learn exactly how Clear Creek ISD , Dickinson ISD , Odyssey Academy , College of the Mainland , San Jacinto College and University of Houston – Clear Lake are all implementing various programs and learning opportunities to help develop a 21st century workforce that will help our region successfully complete in the global economy . On April 13 , you are invited to attend the redesigned State of Education Luncheon that will focus on the preK-12 public schools , serving as both a learning opportunity , and a chance to forge new partnerships . On April 5 , there will be a Higher Education Breakfast , to highlight what these institutions are doing and to identify future partnerships there .
Through partnerships with education , businesses become known as leaders in the community who value quality education . When students achieve their goals in education , everyone benefits . Come join us and be a part of making all of that happen !
Laura DuPont currently serves as the Vice President of the Clear Creek ISD Board of Trustees . She is also the Co-Chair of the LCRCC Education Committee , and serves on the Board of the LCRCC . As an engineer and an educator , one of her passions is growing opportunities and partnerships that lead to student success and organizational improvement .
19 MOMENTUM / March 2018