Mayor Parker calls for support of business leaders as education crisis affects economy
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker called for the support of business leaders to help solve Texas’ education crisis during the Education for a Strong Workforce breakfast held Tuesday at Texas Wesleyan University.
“We are in a crisis when it comes to education in this state,” Parker said. “We just are, and I’m so disappointed that not enough people are talking about it. When you only have 23% of your students making it to a two-year or four-year credential within six years of high school graduation, you are in crisis.”
The event highlighted work-based learning in students as critical to the future economic strength of Fort Worth. Parker called Fort Worth business leaders to action and said the solution is more industry partnership and higher education pathways in Fort Worth high schools and K-12 schools.
Texas funders’ collaborative Philanthropy Advocates spoke to the current state of Fort Worth and broader Texas education. In less than eight years, 62% of all Texas jobs will require a post-secondary credential but today less than 50% of Texans have earned one of any kind, said Philanthropy Advocates Director Becky Calahan.
“As mayor, it’s the most important work I’ll do because I can try to fix roads and streetlights and fund police, but if we don’t have a systemic solution to education, we will wake up in 20 and 30 years, and you will not recognize Fort Worth for all the wrong reasons,” Parker said.
Lockheed Martin was recognized for its high school internship program and given as one example of successful partnership between industry leaders, employers and students. The Lockheed Martin Aeronautics internship launched in collaboration with K-12 STEM education nonprofit Project Lead the Way during the 2014-15 school year.
During the first year, Lockheed Martin brought on five high school interns. After eight years of growth, the aerospace company employed 40 high school students during last year’s internship class, exposing them to real-world work experiences supported by strong business engagement.
Today, 66% of Lockheed Martin’s high school interns are either working as college interns or have full-time jobs at the company. The defense company plans to hire 30,000 more employees within the next 20 years, according to Parker.
University of North Texas senior Mia Flores shared her story of success committing to Project Lead the Way’s engineering pathway in 9th grade and then starting a high school internship at Lockheed Martin as a senior. Upon graduating college as a first-generation student this spring, she will enter a full-time role at the company.
“This is the type of real-world training that all Texas students need to ensure we are ready for the workforce,” Flores said. “Recently, state and local leaders came together with educators and businesses in North Texas to discuss how to work together to shape the future of Texas’ workforce and ensure our state’s continued economic success. This Education for a Strong Workforce roundtable discussion is an example of what we need from our business and elected leaders all over the state.”
The event was presented by Rainwater Charitable Foundation, North Texas Community Foundation, The Miles Foundation, Tarrant To & Through Partnership, Lockheed Martin and Project Lead the Way.
“I am fortunate that leaders like Fort Worth Mayor Parker and companies like Lockheed Martin know that an educated workforce is the key to the future economic success of Texas,” Flores said. “It is time for the rest of the state to follow this example and turn students from statistics to success stories.”
This story was originally published September 28, 2022 at 9:50 AM.
