Nov. 7 event in Hazard to feature U.S. Rep. Rogers, Gene Wilhoit
Submission
Forward in the Fifth—a nonprofit organization created in 1986 by U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (Ky-05) to reverse southern and eastern Kentucky’s low educational attainment levels—will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Monday, Nov. 7, in Hazard with an awards luncheon and “Unbridled Learning Educational Summit.”
Educators, business leaders, parents and students from across the region will converge on the grounds of Hazard Community and Technical College to celebrate the organization’s successes and discuss Kentucky’s top education issues.
The event is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. (ET) in the college’s First Federal Building with a reception followed by an awards luncheon featuring Rogers. During the luncheon, Rogers will present the Difference Maker Award to five individuals who have worked to advance education in the region and throughout the state.
At the conclusion of the luncheon, educators will participate in the Unbridled Learning Educational Summit from 1:30-4:30 p.m., where they will address some of the leading topics in education related to the passage of Kentucky Senate Bill 1 and Unbridled Learning, the state’s new public school assessment and accountability system.
Gene Wilhoit, executive director of the Council of Chief State School Officers and former Kentucky commissioner of education, will be the summit’s keynote speaker.
Wilhoit, who served as Kentucky’s third commissioner of education from 2000-2006, will address educators before they break out into smaller groups to discuss topics related to Kentucky’s new assessment system.
Concurrent sessions will center around topics such as common core standards, college and career readiness, dropout prevention, the new accountability system and homeschooling.
Educators who attend the summit will be eligible to receive Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA) professional development credit.
Tickets for the anniversary event are $25 per person. For more information or to reserve tickets, contact Rhonda Lawson [email protected] at The Center for Rural Development at 606-677-6000. The deadline to reserve tickets is Oct. 31.