Employers for Education Excellence Forum Series

Program Summary

Employers know that students who meet high academic standards enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed and that Oregon's economic development demands a high-performing public school system that attracts and retains employees and their families. In 2004, E3 presented regional Employer Education Forums designed to engage Oregon employers in boosting student achievement. The forums presented business and education leaders with the compelling case for taking part in improving Oregon's schools through employer engagement. Our schools cannot do their job alone; for our students and our economy to succeed, everyone must play a role.

Prominent Speakers Illustrating Results

Delivered by respected national figures from prominent companies and philanthropic organizations that are innovators in education, each forum illustrated the importance of employer commitment to improving public education. With specific and compelling examples of how they engaged their organization in public K-12 education and the results they achieved, national and local speakers inspired attendants to also take action and make a difference locally. 

Eugene Forum- March 31, 2004

E3’s Employer Education Forum Series kicked off with Investing in Education is Everyone’s Business, a presentation by Kathy Klock, Senior Program Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. More than 150 business and education leaders from the Eugene area gained a stronger understanding of the community’s role in boosting student achievement.

Klock detailed how and why the Gates Foundation is committing more than $1 billion to transform large high schools into smaller schools. In Oregon, the Gates Foundation has formed a $25 million partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust and E3: Employers for Education Excellence to redesign large high schools into smaller schools, and to start up new small high schools that increase graduation rates and close the achievement gap.

Holly Hernandez, a Churchill High graduate and young mother, also spoke at the forum, emphasizing that rigorous and personalized education is needed for all students to achieve at the highest levels. Hernandez, now a University of Oregon freshman, is the first in her family to attend a university. “I was fortunate to have an incredible relationship with a teacher who provided me with the support and encouragement I needed. I was in challenging classes that kept me motivated and prepared me for college. And I got real-life experience in an internship that helped me find out what I wanted to do with my life,” said Hernandez.

Audience members also learned about specific ways they can help their own local schools improve. “Not every organization can invest millions of dollars,” said Gary Pierpoint, Umpqua Bank Senior Vice President and Area Manager.  “But each of us can volunteer in a classroom, mentor a child or invite a student for a job shadow or internship. Everyone can – and must – make a difference so our schools, and our students, succeed.”  Pierpoint outlined Umpqua Bank’s “Connect Volunteer Network” program that credits fulltime employees with 40 hours of paid time a year to volunteer with children. The return on Umpqua’s investment has been extraordinary for both their communities and their employees.

The event, held at the Oregon Lillis Business Complex, was sponsored by Umpqua Bank, Comcast, and the Pape Group and organized in partnership with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon University System.

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Medford Forum- October 25, 2004

Kerry Killinger, President, Chairman and CEO of Washington Mutual told a sold out crowd of over 300 business and community members in Medford that they must play a critical role in helping schools better prepare students for success in higher education, employment and life.

“Today's students must meet higher academic standards than ever before in our nation's history. Businesses need to partner with schools to help students understand what's expected of them in this new world of 'do more and do it better',” Killinger said.

Killinger stressed that the business community is a serious voice that students – especially those in high school – listen to, and can send the message that academic achievement does matter and hard work in school is relevant.

Cassie Mesa, a senior at South Medford High School shared the value she gained from an internship at a dental office her junior year, and how it has encouraged her to pursue a job and training in the dental field. “It really helped me determine which classes to take my final year in high school. Before the internship I thought I wanted to be in dentistry, and the opportunity confirmed it,” said Cassie.

A longtime advocate and passionate supporter of education improvement, Killinger encouraged the audience to give students a picture of the real world by providing opportunities for learning – job shadows, internships, classroom visits – either individually or by partnering with other businesses and community groups. He also recommended supporting students by using existing programs that businesses have crafted to provide much needed funds such as rebate and script programs.

Killinger drew applause as he concluded, “There's no cause more important than the future of our children, and it's incumbent upon each of us – individuals and businesses alike – to do all we can to support our students as they stretch themselves to achieve.”

The event, presented at the monthly Chamber of Medford/Jackson County was sponsored by Security Insurance, a JBL&K Company and Liberty Northwest. It was the fall program of the E3 Employer Education Series.