The 2013 Leadership Hardin County class participated in a day of discussion and observation of education locally and globally. We began the day at the Hardin County Board of Education with a presentation from the Central Kentucky Community Foundation looking at technology and trends globally and their implication for education even at the early childhood age. We heard from a panel of local school superintendents from Hardin County Schools, Elizabethtown Independent Schools, Fort Knox Department of Defense Schools and West Point Independent Schools.
Our class broke into groups to tour Preschool through High School locally including a private school and an alternative education facility. The tour also included a Career Exploration Fair that was underway at Central Hardin High School.
Lunch was hosted by Back Home restaurant as the class reconvened at ECTC Regional Postsecondary Center. Our class discussed observations of all of the schools toured. We then participated in a Post Secondary School Panel which included ECTC, WKU Elizabethtown, Webster University, and McKendree University. Post secondary education has been available in this community for 50 years. The panel discussed the strategy and conveniences available to students with technology to manage work, family and college. Students have access to 15 programs that lead to Bachelors degrees through partnerships and the ability to transfer credits locally. There are a variety of programs available in our community including programs with the military base, tuition free programs for students age 65 and older, graduate degrees and programs to study abroad.
Our class then discussed the 3 class projects that we have been researching since the retreat. As we wanted to have plenty of time to develop ideas about 1 specific project we had decided to vote during this session. Our 2013 class decided to participate with the Work Ethic Seal program that was presented at our retreat by John Wright from Hardin County Schools.
Summary
Education Day was an enjoyable and enlightening day for the 2013 Leadership Hardin County class in discussing trends and technology from early childhood through graduate study both in the public education system and private schools. While we don’t have a residential setting for students there are a variety of resources and student life activities available in our community to allow students of all ages to further their education while managing family and work as well.
About the Authors:
Cheri Tivitt works as Regional Emergency Services Administrator at Communicare Inc. Cheri can be contacted at (270) 668 9453 or ctivitt@communicare.org
Ira Dyer works as Deputy Director EMS for the Hardin County Government. Ira can be contacted at (270) 769-3016 or emsdeputy@hardin.com
