The summit is designed to provide information to the entire
community to raise the level of awareness of education issues.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Preparing Our Children for
Their Future.” Our students will be competing for jobs with
others from around the world. Employers are now looking for 21st
century skills such as creativity, problem solving,
communication, innovation, and critical thinking. Kentucky has
adopted new curriculum standards to address the new skills. The
keynote by Gene Wilhoit will address the new standards and how
these standards will prepare our students and the community for
the future. I have heard Mr. Wilhoit speak a couple of times in
the last year; he will inspire you about the future of
education. The Kentucky Department of Education must change to
meet the demands of the future. Therefore, KDE Associate
Commissioner for the Office of Next Generation Learners, Felicia
Cumings Smith, will be discussing the Next Generation Learners
concept. Mrs. Smith is overseeing much o