Campus Talk: Symposium To ‘E.Y.E.’ Future Of Education
by June 9, 2015 5:50 am 102 views
Editor’s note: Each Tuesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Campus Talk,” a recap and deep-dive into education topics in our email newsletter, which you can sign up to receive daily for free here.
SYMPOSIUM TO ‘E.Y.E.’ FUTURE OF EDUCATION
The Northwest Arkansas P-20 Task Force is offering a free daylong symposium for educators from preschool through college levels, legislators and industry leaders. The symposium’s purpose is to give educators, lawmakers and business people the opportunity to communicate and collaborate on educational initiatives and programs in the region.
The event, “E.Y.E. to the Future: Education, Youth and the Economy,” will be held on Tuesday, June 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Rogers Heritage High School. Speakers include Johnny Key, commissioner of the Arkansas Department of Education and Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
SAUNDERS, ROGERS NAMED TO NEW ROLES AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Dr. Eric Saunders has been selected as the assistant commissioner for Research and Technology at the Arkansas Department of Education. Saunders, who is currently serving as the assistant commissioner for Fiscal and Administrative Services, will begin transitioning to his new position July 1. He will replace Dr. Cody Decker, who has been named the director of the Office of Institutional Research at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
In his new role, Saunders will oversee the agency’s data reporting systems such as the ADE Data Center; the Data Quality Unit; technology initiatives and resources such as the StudentGPS Dashboards; and the agency’s Technical Support Unit.
Greg Rogers has been named as Saunders’ replacement as assistant commissioner for Fiscal and Administrative Services at the Arkansas Department of Education. Rogers, who currently serves as the chief fiscal officer, will begin transitioning to his new role July 1.
As the assistant commissioner, Rogers will oversee the distribution of funds to public schools, as well as the daily operations of the Child Nutrition Unit, school finance and student management software, and fiscal distress unit. He also will continue to serve as the agency’s chief fiscal officer.
DR. DEBRA WEST APPOINTED CHANCELLOR AT ASU MID-SOUTH
A Forrest City native with ties to the region was selected Friday to become the first chancellor of the Arkansas State University-Mid South campus in West Memphis.
Arkansas State University System President Dr. Charles L. Welch said Dr. Debra West was picked to serve as chancellor of the ASU Mid-South campus.
West, who has worked with community college workforce training initiatives, will succeed Dr. Glen Fenter, who will resign June 30 as the first president of Mid-South Community College to become CEO of the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce.
GOV. HUTCHINSON APPOINTS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced appointments to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, which replaced the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. The preliminary appointments include: Chairman Charles Clark, Louann; Tom Anderson, Roland; Dr. Chad Bishop, Springdale; Scott Bull, Fayetteville; Melissa Hanesworth, Fort Smith; Diane Hilburn, Little Rock; Randy Hopper, Flippin; Abby Houseworth, Blytheville; Dean Inman, Paragould; Bart Langley, Russellville; Holley Little, Benton; Michael Newcity, Fort Smith; Jerry Riley, Pine Bluff; Gary Sams, Morrilton; Robert Thorne, Marion; Lindsey Brown, North Little Rock; Alan Hughes, Bismarck; Karen Breashears, Arkadelphia; Brian Itzkowitz, Little Rock; ADHE Director Dr. Brett Powell, Little Rock; and Education Commissioner Johnny Key, Little Rock.