Happy Holidays! ; Partners Spotlighted at the 2018 SAS Conference

Week of: December 17, 2018

OUR MISSION:

JARI is the collaborative force that enhances all aspects of our region to grow a diverse economy and build vibrant communities.

Partners Spotlighted at the 2018 SAS Conference

Debi Balog

Director, Workforce Development

Each year the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) hosts an annual conference designed to provide educators with updates on state educational initiatives. The Standards Aligned System (SAS) Institute includes general sessions with nationally recognized keynote presenters, panel presentations and breakout sessions that highlight exemplars and programming from schools and organizations across the commonwealth. This year, the conference was held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on December 9th-12th. The SAS Conference attracts approximately 200 Superintendents from across the Commonwealth.

One of this year’s keynote presenters was Eileen Cipriani, Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development with Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry . She addressed Pennsylvania workforce needs and how increasing partnerships can build a system of competitiveness and innovation. Workforce, education, and business partners from the Southern Alleghenies Region were invited to participate in a panel discussion to showcase the impact of a highly functioning partnership in Pennsylvania.

Panelist: Debi Balog, Director, Workforce Development/JARI, Susan K. Whisler, Director, Southern Alleghenies Workforce Development Board, Barbara A. Zaborowski, Ph.D. Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College, Eileen Cipriani, PA Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development, Shawn Kaufman, Director, Human Resources, Riggs Industries, PA Department of Community & Economic Development, Gwen Ross, Director of Workforce Development Initiatives and Carole M. Kakabar, Superintendent, Ferndale Area School District.