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On Tuesday, February 3, more than 80 school and community leaders gathered at the Lorain County ESC for a follow-up session with Mark Perna. Hosted in partnership between GCSSA and the Lorain County ESC, the event built on the momentum of the fall in-service while expanding collaboration between education and workforce partners.
During the morning session, district and building-level administrators explored how generational understanding can influence leadership decisions and school culture. Perna reinforced the importance of helping students build a competitive advantage through Academic Knowledge, Technical Competencies, and Professional Life Skills. When students clearly understand how their education connects to future goals, engagement and motivation increase.
The afternoon session welcomed employers, chambers, workforce representatives, civic leaders, and Business Advisory Council members. Together, participants discussed strengthening career pathways, improving communication across generations, and aligning classroom experiences with workforce needs. The shared dialogue emphasized that student success depends on strong partnerships between schools and the communities they serve.
Dennis Honkala, GCSSA Assistant Executive Director, emphasized the importance of continuing the work beyond a single event. “When we bring school leaders and community partners into the same room, we create alignment around a shared purpose,” Honkala said. “These conversations help us better support students in discovering their strengths and connecting them to meaningful opportunities.”
With attendance growing since October, the continued engagement reflects a regional commitment to connecting regional ESCs, schools, communities, and generations with clarity, collaboration, and purpose.
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