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Two public events focus on education issues

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Portland Mayor Sam Adams and his advisory panel on public education announced two events that are open to the public in April.

A town hall is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at Parkrose High School, 12003 N.E. Shaver St., Portland. The event is free. The purpose is to engage the community in a conversation regarding student success and access to education, graduation rates and post-secondary education.

Michael Geisen is the guest speaker. He is a science teacher at Crook County Middle School in Prineville and the national Teacher of the Year for 2008.

Next, a leadership summit is set for 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, April 12, at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Tickets are $15. Buy tickets now to reserve your spot.

Keynote speaker is Greg Darnieder, special assistant to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The purpose of the event is bring together elected officials, school district leaders and the business community to discuss education

“Getting the entire community actively thinking about education and student success is vital,” said Preston Pulliams, president of Portland Community College and a member of the mayor’s advisory panel. “Access to high-quality education, from pre-school through higher education, has to be our priority for the 21st century.”

Andrew McGough, executive director of Worksystems Inc., agreed. “We must do all we can to improve the high school graduation rate to ensure the future workforce is qualified for careers in our local economy,” he said. Worksystems and PCC are partners in the Willow Creek Center worker training facility in Washington County.

About Dana Haynes

Dana Haynes, joined PCC in 2007 as the manager of the Office of Public Affairs, directing the college's media and government relations. Haynes spent the previous 20 years as a reporter, columnist and editor for Oregon newspapers, including ... more »