Education Matters

By The MESH

What's Education Matters about?

Listen in to whats going on in education and what really matters for our students and economy. Local education experts speak to you about the hot topics and what you need to know... because Education Matters.

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Education Matters episodes:

12.17.2015
Education Matters 31: NC Works Certified Work Ready Communities
Special Guests: Wendy Johnson, Director of Workforce Development, Western Piedmont Council of Governments [email protected] 828.485.4273 Adrian Tait, Director, High Country Workforce Development Board [email protected] 828.265.5434x130 Jeanne Turner-Simms, Career & Technical Education Coordinator, Hickory Public Schools [email protected] 828.322.2855 Websites & Resources Certified Work Ready Communities workreadycommunities.org/...
11.10.2015
Education Matters 30: Ensuring That NC is #1 in Workforce
The North Carolina Community College System embarked on a strategic planning initiative called Align4NCWorks to secure North Carolina’s role as a national leader in workforce development through collaboration, innovation and local impact. The plan is to connect with and build on...
08.27.2015
Education Matters 29: Catawba Careers & Hot Job Videos!
Catawba Careers is an innovative video driven website created as a new media option to post and advertise career opportunities in the Catawba Valley. The website features Hot Job! Videos specific to local positions featuring people who are currently working...
12.23.2014
Education Matters 28: Young Professionals Making An Impact
Hickory Young Professionals recently recognized the Top 10 Under 40 in Catawba County. Education Matters hosts Tracy Hall & Todd Ashworth welcome as in-studio guests 2 of those 10 young professionals (Lindsay Keisler & Heather Benfield) who are making a...
11.25.2014
Education Matters: Connecting Kids to Careers & College
Education Matters is back and now in full implementation. This episode's guests have been working diligently to implement the innovative ways we are connecting students from 8th grade to 12th grade to local career opportunities, while helping them to be...
12.23.2013
Education Matters 26: Empowering Women for the Workforce
Women in North Carolina face many challenges in the areas of economic security, poverty, health, well-being, employment, earnings and political participation. The Women's Resource Center works to improve lives and empower women through workforce development, advocacy, enrichment programs and community...
11.20.2013
Education Matters 25: Apprenticeship Catawba
Apprenticeship Catawba is an exciting new partnership between local advanced manufacturers, Catawba and Alexander County schools and Catawba Valley Community College. Did you know jobs in Mechatronics and Computer Integrated Machining are in demand? Would you: Enjoy a career working with robots, computer...
10.31.2013
Education Matters 24: Career & College Promise
Special guests: Roxy Poovey Public School Liaison at Catawba Valley Community College [email protected] (828) 327-7000 x4594 Laurie Wegner Director of Admissions at Catawba Valley Community College (828) 327-7000 x4618 Resources: CVCC Website NC Dept. of Public Instruction Website
09.16.2013
Education Matters 23: Career Readiness
Did you know that high school seniors across North Carolina have the opportunity to earn a NC Career Readiness Certificate (CRC), a portable skills credential powered by the ACT National Career Readiness Certification? This credential gives employers and students a uniform, standard,...
08.05.2013
Education Matters 22: Hickory Young Professionals
Special Guests: Todd Ashworth, Chairman of Hickory Youn Professionals; Financial Consultant with Renaissance Financial Managers Lindsey Lawhon, HYP Member and the Executive Director for the Council on Adolescents of Catawba County For More Information: Hickory Young Professionals Website: www.hickoryhyp.com Contact info: Todd Ashworth [email protected] 828.322.1111 Council...
06.25.2013
Education Matters 21: Workforce Development & Economic Outlook
Special Guests: Scott Millar, President of Catawba County Economic Development Christa Francisco, Human Resource Manager at Sarstedt, Inc. David Waechter, President & CEO of Verdanté BioEnergy For More Information: Catawba County Economic Development Corporation: www.catawbaedc.org Sarstedt, Inc: www.sarstedt.com Verdanté BioEnergy: www.verdantebioenergy.com
05.16.2013
Education Matters 20: Graduation: Hopes, Fears and the Future!
The time is now! What do you do, where do you go and how do you get there? Tracy and Lamar welcome local seniors to the table as they tell us what is going through their heads just days before...
04.17.2013
Education Matters 19: Great Opportunities in Healthcare
We welcome Sonya Fleming, Director of Organizational Learning at Catawba Valley Medical Center ([email protected]) and Tonja Pool, Catawba Valley Community College Program Director of Emergency Medical Science ([email protected]) as we discuss the opportuinities in Healthcare education! More than doctors and nurses... the...
03.15.2013
Education Matters 18: Pathway to Prosperity
Our guest this month, Dr. Amy Loyd, is the director of the Pathways to Prosperity Network, a coalition of nine states including NC. Pathways to Prosperity is a partnership between Jobs for the Future and Harvard University’s School of Education....
02.15.2013
Education Matters 17: Entrepreneurship & Small Business Start Ups
What is entrepreneurship? And how does it help the economy? Joining hosts Tracy Hall and Lamar Mitchell this episode, are Gary Muller (Department Head of Business Programs and Coordinator of the Jobs Creation Center at Catawba Valley Community College) and...
12.11.2012
Education Matters 16: Conover Station and Manufacturing Solutions Center: A Public-Private Partnership for Manufacturing Innovations, Workforce Development and Education
Some innovations in manufacturing have come to Conover, NC that are opening the door for unique educational opportunities for area students. Dan St. Louis & Donald Duncan sit down with hosts Tracy Hall and Lamar Mitchell to discuss these developments...
11.15.2012
Education Matters 15: Anti-bullying Initiatives in Catawaba County Schools
The Education Matters podcast welcomes Dr. Dan Brigman, Catawba County Schools Superintendent and Kathryn Nelson, junior at Fred T. Foard High School and Girl Scout to discuss some major initatives going on in our school systems to help combat bullying....
10.17.2012
Education Matters 14: Celebrating Diversity
Now is the time to "Celebrate Cultural Diversity"! Join Tracy and Lamar as they welcome their guests, Idris Stover, Vice President & Manager for BB&T;'s Affirmative Action & Diversity Programs and Steve O. Hunt, Executive Director for CVCC's Office of Multicultural Affairs,...
09.18.2012
Education Matters 13: Get the Not Out of Your Life - Future Workforce Alliance
This episode, Education Matters is proud to present a new campaign by the Future Workforce Alliance called "Get NOT Out of Your Life". FWA intends to significantly increase the percentage of working-aged adults who attain degrees, earn certificates, or complete...
08.07.2012
Education Matters 12: Art Education - Creativity, Careers & Innovation
When schools look at streamlining their budgets the Arts are often the first programs cut. In studio today with hosts Tracey Hall & Lamar Mitchell are two folks with some thoughts on why keeping the Arts around is vital to...
06.21.2012
Education Matters 11: Classrooms of the Future
As usual, the Education Matters team addresses the major topics in Catawba County education. Join us this episode as we welcome Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, President of CVCC, Dr. Walter Hart, Superintendent, Hickory Public Schools, and Dr. David Stegall, Associate Superintendent,...
05.15.2012
Education Matters 10: Internships and Apprenticeships
Education Matters goes outside their “norm” this month by bringing on some unique guests – students! Tracy and Lamar welcome Logan and Jacob from local high schools to speak about their current internship and apprenticeship. Is it guiding them to...
04.18.2012
Education Matters 9: Nontraditional & Unique Learning
In this episode of Education Matters your hosts Tracy Hall and Lamar Mitchell invite guests Trina Williams, Career and Technical Education Coordinator for Hickory Public Schools, and Geoff Crosson, The Discovery High School English Department Chair for Newton-Conover City Schools,...
03.14.2012
Education Matters 8: Education Matters Extreme STEM Tour
This episode of Education Matters brings a round table discussion featuring your hosts Tracy Hall and Lamar Mitchell with guests Dale Mull, president of Flowers Baking Company in Newton, NC; Carol Moore, science curriculum coordinator of Catawba County schools; and...
01.17.2012
Education Matters 7: Poverty and Education
In this week’s episode of Education Matters, Lamar and Tracy tackle the issue of disadvantaged youth, opportunities provided for them and the effects of poverty on the education of young people. Astonishing statistics set the stage for an in depth...
12.13.2011
Education Matters 6: Fostering Business Partnerships
Join Tracy and Lamar for a discussion with special guests, Dr. Garrett Hinshaw, President of Catawba Valley Community College and John Bray, President/CEO of Vanguard Furniture, regarding the importance of building partnerships between businesses and education. Workforce development, higher education...
11.14.2011
Education Matters 5: Math, Science, and Robots!
Creative, abstract, innovation... Math? Joining Lamar and Tracy this month on Education Matters with guests Dr. Jeffrey Isenhour Principal of Jacobs Fork Middle School and Crystal Glenn, Executive Director of CVCC Workforce Development & Innovation Center. The group discusses the...
10.20.2011
Education Matters 4: Preparing Students for Careers
Tracy and Lamar bring in two special guests - Cynthia Eades, Human Resources Director for Catawba County, and Todd Ashworth, Financial Consultant with Renaissance Financial Managers - to talk about the importance of getting businesses to connect with students. The...
09.11.2011
Education Matters 3: Preschool Education
Tracy and Lamar discuss the importance of Preschool Education and the challenges these programs are facing across the state. Their special guests this month are Kim Salyards, Executive Director for the Catawba County Partnership for Children, and Brice Melton, Development...
08.12.2011
Education Matters 2: Mentoring
Lamar and Tracy bring in special guests Chris Johnson with Young People of Integrity and John Eller with Catawba County Social Services to talk about the concept of "mentoring" and the impact it can make on students. The group also...
07.15.2011
Education Matters 1: Why Education Matters
Lamar Mitchell from Champions of Education and Tracy Hall from Education Matters discuss the format of their new show, address the budget issues facing the educational community in North Carolina, and talk about ways organizations or individuals can get involved...

What's Education Matters about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Education Matters episodes:

Education Matters 31: NC Works Certified Work Ready Communities

Education Matters 30: Ensuring That NC is #1 in Workforce

Education Matters 29: Catawba Careers & Hot Job Videos!

Education Matters 28: Young Professionals Making An Impact

Education Matters: Connecting Kids to Careers & College

Education Matters 26: Empowering Women for the Workforce

Education Matters 25: Apprenticeship Catawba

Education Matters 24: Career & College Promise

Education Matters 23: Career Readiness

Education Matters 22: Hickory Young Professionals

Education Matters 21: Workforce Development & Economic Outlook

Education Matters 20: Graduation: Hopes, Fears and the Future!

Education Matters 19: Great Opportunities in Healthcare

Education Matters 18: Pathway to Prosperity

Education Matters 17: Entrepreneurship & Small Business Start Ups

Education Matters 16: Conover Station and Manufacturing Solutions Center: A Public-Private Partnership for Manufacturing Innovations, Workforce Development and Education

Education Matters 15: Anti-bullying Initiatives in Catawaba County Schools

Education Matters 14: Celebrating Diversity

Education Matters 13: Get the Not Out of Your Life - Future Workforce Alliance

Education Matters 12: Art Education - Creativity, Careers & Innovation

Education Matters 11: Classrooms of the Future

Education Matters 10: Internships and Apprenticeships

Education Matters 9: Nontraditional & Unique Learning

Education Matters 8: Education Matters Extreme STEM Tour

Education Matters 7: Poverty and Education

Education Matters 6: Fostering Business Partnerships

Education Matters 5: Math, Science, and Robots!

Education Matters 4: Preparing Students for Careers

Education Matters 3: Preschool Education

Education Matters 2: Mentoring

Education Matters 1: Why Education Matters