“ We all know education is an economic driver , and we must work together to ensure our children are prepared for their journey after high school .”
“ I am thankful I had the opportunity to come up through the system so I can use my past experiences to make the best decisions ,” she says . “ We all know education is an economic driver , and we must work together to ensure our children are prepared for their journey after high school .”
Long before high school , however , are the early years in a child ’ s education when basic skills are developed . West Virginia KIDS COUNT data from 2022 through the Annie E . Casey Foundation reveals that 78 % of fourth graders are not proficient in reading and 85 % of eighth graders are not proficient in math . Blatt ’ s administration is taking on initiatives to ensure West Virginia children are wellequipped in both subjects .
“ Ready , Read , Write , West Virginia , the state ’ s literacy initiative , and UNITe with Numeracy , our continued mathematics focus , will remain at the core of our efforts ,” she says . “ Ensuring our children are proficient in reading and math by the end of third grade is critical . This requires us to get back to the basics in early education and provide the support and interventions our students need .”
It is those foundational skills that are needed to ready students for higher levels of education and to prepare them for the career pathway of their choice . Blatt says the career technical education ( CTE ) programs for middle schools are getting off the ground , bringing a lot of energy and excitement into the schools and paving the way for the next generation of workers .
“ CTE programs are key to addressing the shortage of skilled workers in West Virginia and around the country ,” she says . “ West Virginia ’ s CTE programs empower students to explore potential careers in various hands-on , technical training programs . These opportunities not only teach students real-world knowledge and skills but also provide opportunities for industry-recognized credentials and meaningful work-based learning experiences .”
In order to educate this future workforce , skilled teachers must lead them in the classrooms . With a national and statewide teacher shortage becoming a cause for concern , the state Department of Education is focusing on maintaining its teachers and developing new ones . TeachWV Grow Your Own Pathway to Teaching has entered its second full
Heather Ouimette
on being named a West Virginia Executive Young Gun !
This is a remarkable achievement for a remarkable person . Your fellow associates at The Resort at Glade Springs are proud of you and all you have accomplished !
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