Policy Summit Keynote: Building a Stronger Workforce

The third annual Collin Leadership Policy Summit keynote address, “Building a Stronger Workforce” featured Texas Education Agency Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, and Dr. Harrison Keller, president of the University of North Texas, in a conversation moderated by Collin College District President Dr. Neil Matkin. Both panelists spoke to the importance of partnerships and the pivotal roles they play in building a strong workforce and serving as essential bridges between education, industry, and the community at large.

Building a strong framework for students is what Morath is most concerned about. Morath said this is one of the top priorities the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is working to improve. The goal is to set K-12 students up for success in higher education and to prepare them as skilled professionals for the workforce.

“A key priority is building a foundation of reading and math,” Morath said. “We have 5-year-olds entering kindergarten and only 49% are ready for entry level lessons. So, building a strong academic foundation on which students build the rest of their academic careers is a priority … making sure that each experience is connected.”

Morath added that the push for career preparation activities to benefit students in K-12 education has seen a significant growth in the last 5-10 years, a bright spot despite the recent destructive impact the global pandemic caused.

“One way TEA invests in career preparation is through the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program,” Morath said. “P-TECH takes a traditional high school and converts the curriculum in a sort of three-legged stool – high school, community college, and major employers. The objective is that by the time a student graduates at 18, they will have earned an associate degree that is specific to a trade they’ve been working in for the last years.”

Beyond K-12 education, Dr. Keller provided insight on how higher education institutions, both community colleges and universities, must provide opportunities that amplify workforce preparation through their programming. He says that ultimately, getting a job is a goal for every student and the parents of those students. Taking responsibility for informing students who are pursuing higher education about all those opportunities to make their education an ultimate investment is a priority for Dr. Keller.

“I’m not saying students should not follow their passions. I am saying we must equip all of our students to be able to take their talents as far as they can take them,” Dr. Keller said. “That might entail picking up other kinds of credentials along the way.”

Dr. Keller adds that this is where the hard work to create beneficial partnerships is so critical.

“For example, it may be that (UNT) doesn’t offer certain credentials, but then we do a partnership with Collin College, that’s more direction (for the student). We stay attuned to those kinds of opportunities …  leading to students landing a good job and momentum into their early career.”