Education Committee 2012 Chair:  Joyce Hunter, Career Linkages, Southeast Missouri State University Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m., Cape Chamber office. This committee is made up ofchamber member volunteers who wish to serve the Education community by working on several key initiatives and projects.The committee oversees the following:  Coordinates the Partners in Education Program.  Click here to see all Partners in Education.  If your business is interested in becoming a Partner in Education click here. For more specific information about what it means to be a Partner in Education download the Partners Brochure. Hosts Career Explorations Days for area 8th Graders and the Back to School Reception for area teachers in August.   Coordinate and Internship Awareness Campaign as a service for area post-secondary institutions. Hosting an intern at your place of business or organization can assist you and our area in giving quality experience to students, but allows an opportunity to retain young talent in the Cape Girardeau area. For more information about hosting an intern click Creating An Effective Internship Booklet. Recognizes excellence in area educators by annually organizing and selecting the Educators of the Year.  Traditionally the committee has honored four educators from area K-12 schools (public, private and parochial) and one faculty member from Southeast Missouri State University.  The committee is active throughout the year with other event and activities.  Scroll down tosee the goals and objectives outlined in the committee’s 2012 Business Plan. Join this committee. EDUCATION – 2012 Community Development Division Purpose:  Create an alliance between business and education and seek information that will lead to providing the necessary training to meet the needs of our area.  Continue to promote goodwill and awareness of the educational systems in our community, while recognizing the mutually beneficial rewards of diversity. Goal:  Sponsor and develop student activities that create an awareness of the relationship between business and education. Objectives: Sponsor Career Explorations Days for all area 8th grade students. Curriculum for the event will follow the Missouri Connections program. Chamber businesses will be utilized for career presentations. Maximize student experiences and help the community gain and retain qualified talent through the internship program. Involve area businesses in the annual University Job Fair. Co-sponsor annual “Welcome Back Student” picnic for all Southeast students. Goal:  Recognize the importance of educators to our community. Objectives: Communicate with local school administrators to seek input. Sponsor the annual Educator of the Year awards, explore options to increase exposure for the honorees. Host a reception for all employees of the Cape Girardeau schools (public and parochial) to show the communities appreciation for their work. Goal:  As a community that values youth the Education Committee will communicate the positive aspects of local education and the possibilities for collaboration between businesses and education. Objectives: Promote the “Partners in Education” program with a goal to have all area schools with at least one business partner.  Encourage business partners to utilize Junior Achievement and the Read to Succeed program in elementary schools. Serve as a liaison between the business community and the school system on educational issues. Promote the University and area post-secondary institutions to the community and raise the awareness of the academic programs and trainings offered. EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT – 2011 Accomplishments Janet Brase, Kristin Gill, Julia Unnerstall, Dennis Wilson and Dr. Steven Hoffman were recognized as the 2011 Educators of the Year. The Teachers Appreciation Business After Hours was held in August.  180 attendees came to the event with 75 businesses donating various door prizes to give away that evening. Continued promoting the Partners in Education program, facilitated partnerships with businesses and area schools. Hosted a training program for chamber member businesses on how to establish an internship at their place of business. Promoted the University Job Fair & Entrepreneurism Week to the membership. Three thousand students enjoyed the Welcome Back Student Picnic co-sponsored by the Chamber at the Show Me Center.