by Matthew Stewart 
The Daily Times

Educators, elected officials and business leaders met at the Blount Education Initiative’s kickoff event Thursday to discuss the importance of remaining steadfast in their resolve even in the face of changing state standards.
Mark Cate, chairman of the initiative’s executive committee, said the seed for the initiative was planted at Maryville College’s 2006 Leadership Summit, when education leader Bill Daggett told the group that “to really effect change you have to change the culture.” He told the nearly 300 audience members in attendance that it was “a very, very exciting night to see it come fruition.”
Tennessee Department of Education’s Assistant Commissioner Susan Bunch was the event’s keynote speaker. Tennessee’s Acting Commissioner of Education Tim Webb could not attend the event, because of an illness in the family.
Tennessee’s students are not where they need to be, Bunch said. By 2010, 67 percent of all jobs in Tennessee will require some form of post-secondary training. Students from 36 states are better prepared for post-secondary education, according to Bunch.
Tennessee needs to raise its education standards, so the state’s citizens can compete in the job market with residents from neighboring states, she said. Industrial leaders are looking for students who can apply skills they have learned to everyday problems. Tennessee’s educators need to give students “a diploma which means something (at their graduation) and means something later as they prepare for life.”
Tennessee needs the support of educators, elected officials and business leaders to reach that goal, she said.
“Roll up your sleeves and fight the fight we need to fight.”
Bunch cautioned the audience that changes in the state’s curriculum requirements will produce drops in standardized testing scores. These drops are normal occurrences, and every state that has become a part of the American Diploma Project network has seen this before they “turn the corner,” Bunch said.
“At that time, we will need you by our side. Don’t rest now, we have more work to do.”
Attendees seemed to agree with the kickoff’s message. According to Blount County Board of Education Chairman Don McNelly, the Blount Education Initiative is a move in the right direction.
“I would like to see the initiative supported by the community,” McNelly said.
Partners of the Blount Education Initiative that helped hold the event include DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Multimedia Solutions, ALCOA Inc., Lawler-Wood, Clayton Homes, Ruby Tuesday, Joseph Construction, Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville College, Pellissippi State Technical Community College, Blount Partnership, Leadership Blount and Center for Strong Communities.