Team Leaders

Steve Mohr, Superintendent, Wynford Local Schools

Jerry Morasko, CEO, Avita Healthcare System

Core Team Members

Bruce Angell
Deb Barkhurst
Steve Crall
Leanna Giesige
Chanel Hipp
Paul Johnson
Margaret Thornton
Nicole Workman

Enhance the county's educational system and postsecondary opportunities so that individuals have the skills and education necessary to succeed in today’s economy.

Intended outcomes: Improve postsecondary attainment in the county; reduce employer workforce skill deficiencies

Responsibility: Workforce Preparation and Education Action Team

Key challenges identified during the planning process:

• The workforce education and training system needs to include more alignment and collaboration among employers, education and training institutions, and economic development efforts.
• Many workers lack the foundational skills needed in the workforce – dependability, teamwork, work ethic, for example – and employers struggle to identify workers that have these skills. These are defined as “employability” skills.
• Laid-off or unemployed workers struggle to regain work with suitable wages.
• Postsecondary attainment in the county falls short of surrounding counties.
• Kindergarten through 12th grade schools could be more in tune with the needs of the private sector. School system resources are scarce and discussions of collaboration and resource sharing are warranted.
• A culture driven by multi-generational poverty generates counter-productive work values in some individuals.