Symposium June 9 to Focus on Educational Collaboration

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Johnny Key, left, and Randy Zook

The Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force is offering a free daylong symposium June 9 for educators from preschool through college levels, legislators and industry leaders. "E.Y.E. to the Future: Education, Youth, and the Economy" will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Rogers Heritage High School.

Johnny Key, commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education, and Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, will give keynote addresses. The symposium's purpose is to give educators, lawmakers and business people the opportunity to communicate and collaborate on educational initiatives and programs in Northwest Arkansas.

Key and Zook will also take part in a panel discussion with Mireya Reith, a member of the Arkansas State Board of Education; Charles Cudney, director of the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative; Mike Martin, director of human resources at Preformed Line Products; and Brad Lawless, vice president for social strategy at Collective Bias.

Two strands of breakout sessions are also scheduled, one highlighting innovative practices at local schools and another highlighting career pathways in the region.

The event is free but online registration is required. Lunch will be served, and professional development credit will be available to all registrants.

The University of Arkansas Education Renewal Zone based in the College of Education and Health Professions and the Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative organized the Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force, which is composed of representatives of five institutions of higher education and several local school districts. The University of Arkansas Razor C.O.A.C.H. program, also based in the College of Education and Health Professions, is a third co-sponsor of the June 9 event.