SE Valley Times

Rio Salado College President Kate Smith participated in the "Raise the Bar: Classroom-to-Career Pathways" summit organized by the U.S. Department of Education on November 13, 2024, in Washington, D.C. The event aimed to highlight strategies that connect education with career opportunities, aligning with Rio Salado College’s mission to empower students through accessible and career-focused education.

Dr. Smith was accompanied by Mesa Community College President Richard Daniel, Ph.D., showcasing Arizona's leadership in developing workforce pathways. Both institutions are part of the Maricopa Community College District.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed approximately 200 educational and workforce leaders at the White House for the summit's commencement. Discussions focused on the impact of community colleges and career training programs across America.

Dr. Smith and Dr. Daniel joined other higher education leaders from various institutions including Northern Virginia Community College, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Harvard University, Clemson University, and Arizona State University.

The summit addressed several topics such as aligning coursework with career pathways, leveraging data and technology to connect educational programs with workforce needs, redesigning work-based learning experiences, and enhancing industry partnerships.

The event gathered Cabinet members, senior administration officials, elected representatives, business leaders, K-12 educators, and philanthropic organizations to discuss investments aimed at preparing a workforce ready for diverse fields like infrastructure development, clean energy production, advanced manufacturing among others.

“In today’s economy, most well-paying jobs require some education beyond high school—whether that is an industry credential, certificate or two-year or four-year college degree,” stated the U.S. Department of Education in their event release.

“This was a tremendous opportunity to engage with the critical work being done across the country to elevate workforce education opportunities and industry partnerships,” said Dr. Smith.

The initiative "Raise the Bar: Lead the World," represents a call by the U.S. Department of Education to transform education based on decades of experience and research aiming for educational equity and excellence.

Rio Salado College has been proactive in fostering workforce education through specialized programs tailored for semiconductor technology industries as well as providing adult learners with career-ready skills. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona previously visited MCCCD highlighting expansions in behavioral health programs including those at Rio Salado focusing on addictions and substance use disorders.

“Through innovative partnerships dedicated to developing real-world skills along with faculty committed to best practices for online learning Rio Salado is preparing tomorrow's workforce for Arizona,” stated Dr. Smith.