The Rotary Club of Akron had the privilege of listening to Lisa A. Gray, the founding president of Ohio Excels during our Tuesday February 1st meeting. Gray’s career has been dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of ALL of Ohio’s students.
Click to view the presentation or cut and paste the link into your browser https://youtu.be/ASwJSmBkews
Prior to leading Ohio Excels, Gray had her own consulting practice specializing in public policy development, government relations, advocacy, strategic planning, and project management with an emphasis on public education. Her clients included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve, Inc., Philanthropy Ohio, Battelle for Kids, Ohio Business Roundtable, Teach for America, Jobs for the Future and the Office of Governor Taft, among others.What is Ohio Excels?
Ohio Excels is a nonpartisan coalition of business leaders committed to helping improve education for every Ohio student. Their mission is “To provide an informed business perspective to help improve and transform Ohio’s education system so that it better prepares students to meet the demands of our evolving economy.” Their vision is “All Ohio students have access to and are supported to excel in early childhood, K-12 and post-secondary experiences that prepare them for life and success in a changing economy.”
What are their Core Principles?
Ensure Equity – All students deserve the right to educational success Too many of Ohio’s students currently do not enjoy that opportunity.
Expect Academic Excellence – Education is a critical foundation for life success, and our students deserve the opportunity to develop foundational skills and knowledge that will enable them to achieve in school, the workforce, and life.
Focus on Students – Students needs must be the center of all policy and practice decisions.
Use Data – Education decisions must be informed by data that honestly illuminate student, school, and system performance.
Strengthen Implementation – Leaders must create consistent, innovative policies and support crucial implementation challenges to ensure student success.
Coordinate Investments – The state should better coordinate all of its investments to serve students’ needs by identifying existing state resource, eliminating barriers and silos, and requiring state agency partnerships that meet the comprehensive needs of students.
Offer Quality Choices – Families and students deserve the right to choose the school that best meets their students’ unique needs and have funding for that choice.
Build on Success – Share examples of success and replicate the best educational practices, interventions, and schools so that students have access to proven options at all levels of the education system.
Why Has Ohio Excels Chosen Business as Their Strategic Partner?
Improving the quality of education will give students a better chance to succeed and will help Ohio businesses grow and innovate, fueling a robust state economy.
Why Was Ohio Excels Formed?
Ohio Excels’ initial coalition began by assembling a diverse board of business leaders from across the state, developing core principles to guide their work and attracting a growing number of others from Ohio business community to join their cause. With this strong foundation, Ohio Excels was formally launched in March 2019 and the organization has quickly emerged as a leading voice at the Statehouse, bringing an informed business perspective to improve and transform Ohio’s education system.
What are Ohio Excels’ Current Education Priorities?
- Early Childhood Advocacy
- Covid Catch-Up & Early Literacy
- School Funding & Student Wellness Supports
- Report Cards for Districts & Schools
- Computer Science & STEM Education
- Columbus New Skills Ready Network
- College Enrollment and Re-Enrollment Study
- Complete to Compete Attainment Coalition
- Strengthening Business Advisory Councils
- 4th Annual Aim Hire Education & Workforce Conference
What Have Been Some of Their Accomplishments?
- Putting In Place Stronger Graduation Requirements
- Working to Address Ohio’s Digital Divide
- Helping to Ensure Quality & Equity of Remote Learning
- Strengthening Ohio’s Business Advisory Councils
- Developing a Plan to Increase Educational Attainment
- Leading Discussions on the Future of the Workforce – Aim Hire
- Reforming Ohio’s School Report Cards
To learn more about Ohio Excels and see how you might get involved, check out their website at www.ohioexcels.org.
Yours in Service,
Terry Dalton
Club Secretary & Scholarship Chair
