Education officials, along with business and industry leaders across Georgia, will flock to Rome on Nov. 15 to participate in the second annual Lt. Governor’s Business and Education Summit.

The two-day summit, hosted by the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy and Georgia Northwestern Technical College, will be at GNTC, and thus far, more than 200 people are expected to attend.

As jobs, economic development, career preparation and improvements in education rest on the forefront of many minds, the business and education event will target key drivers of our economy and education’s role in building vibrant and sustainable communities.

The summit will feature Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, Georgia Superintendent of Schools John Barge, plus business, industry and educational leaders from throughout the state.

College and Career Academy CEO Frank Pinson unveiled the summit’s

schedule that will include sessions addressing economic development priorities for communities on Thursday, while Friday will focus on career academy development.

“At the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy, we have experienced the powerful transformation that moves a community forward with our partnership between K-12 education, post-secondary education, and the business community,” Pinson said. “It is our goal to enhance our program and its impact on Rome and Floyd County and to share our success with other communities in Georgia.”

Barge will be the featured speaker for Thursday’s opening session, focusing on the importance of career pathway development and work-based learning for students, emphasizing the role industry needs to play.

Barge will be followed by a panel discussion led by Cagle that will include business and industry leaders discussing Georgia’s talent pipeline and the question, “are jobs out of people?” Cagle and Commissioner Ron Jackson of the Technical College System of Georgia will team up to keynote a luncheon discussion at 11:45 a.m.

Thursday afternoon will be filled with work sessions from 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. focusing on school curriculum, career pathways and addressing the skills gap.

Friday will be devoted to the enhancement and expansion of the charter academy movement. Topics will include making the most of charter, strategic planning for industry needs and setting priorities for Georgia’s college and career academies.

“The College and Career Academy’s community partnership with higher education, business and industry is providing exciting opportunities for young teens in our community,” said Floyd County Schools Superintendent Lynn Plunkett. “It is a vital part of helping our school system provide a quality education for a quality life for all graduates.”

Craig McDaniel, president of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, said he is looking forward to showcasing the value the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy brings to this community.

“The partnership between our schools and the businesses and industry leaders is making a difference,” McDaniel said. “The bulk of the future workforce for Georgia and this nation will have to possess technical skills and the process of providing graduates with those skills can best begin in a career academy.”