Texas and San Antonio face challenges in creating a well-educated and highly-skilled workforce for the future. During their recent class day, the 56 members of Leadership San Antonio (LSA) learned about local school initiatives that are addressing these challenges.
The day began at Valero with a welcome by Guy Clumpner, VP of HOLTCAT, who discussed values-based skills and how servant leadership is applied throughout the organization. The class then traveled to Hawthorne Elementary School and heard from Principal Guadalupe Rodriguez. Hawthorne Elementary became an in-school charter school in 2002 that serves Pre-K- 8th grade. Prior to touring the school, The City of San Antonio’s Education Coordinator, Rebecca Flores, explained the city’s Pre-K 4 SA program, which was approved by voters in 2012. Pre-K 4 SA is designed to the improve quality of prekindergarten childhood education by focusing on numeracy and literacy.
The next stop of the day was to KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Aspire. LSA members were taken on a student led tour where they learned about the benefits of the curriculum. Mark Larson, Chief Executive Officer of KIPP San Antonio, explained the impact and future goals of the college preparatory public school. KIPP schools are open enrollment public schools that provide an education to low-income students inside Loop 410 serving students in grades 5-12. The curriculum focuses on college readiness, character development and lifelong wellness. By 2024, their goal is to operate 15 schools in San Antonio serving more than 8,400 students.
The LSA class was then split into a speed-dating-type session where they heard from Orlando Vera of Travis Early College High School, Delia McLerran of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy, Bill Sturgis of the Engineering & Technologies Academy, and Dottie Hall of Health Careers High School. This allowed everyone to be engaged in an interactive discussion with each of the high school academies that specialize in particular industries or college preparation.
David Martin Davies, journalist and news director of Texas Public Radio, moderated the last segment of the day at UTSA. A panel discussion was held to bring together individuals from the business community and educators to make connections and find solutions to workforce issues. The panel featured Mark Gottsberger, Director of Hallmark School of Business; Dr. Adena Loston, President of St. Philip’s College; Ruth Pina, Vice President- HR of Valero; Assistant Professor Dr. Ram Krishnan of UTSA, and Heather Arrington, Director of Trusted Advisor Program at Rackspace.
The members of LSA class 38 are grouped into committees responsible for developing agendas for the seven class days. The agenda for Education day was developed by class members:
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Jason Nelson, Director,
AECOM
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William Peche, Manager-Intergovernmental & External Relations,
SAWS
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LSA is a joint partnership of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Click here for more information or email Lauren Sides.