COLUMBUS, Ohio — Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Stephanie Siddens and Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced Ohio’s 2023 Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils. The 26 Business Advisory Councils being honored demonstrate excellence developing professional skills for the future, building partnerships and coordinating experiences, which contribute to preparing students for success.
The awards recognize educators, business partners, staff, schools, businesses, educational service centers, joint vocational school districts and communities who come together to create dynamic, career-focused learning environments for students.
“We are thrilled to again be recognized as a three-star Business Advisory Council, and one of only 19 statewide to earn a four or three-star designation,” said Lori Snyder-Lowe, Superintendent, Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center (MVESC). “The Business Advisory Council is a cornerstone of our workforce development initiatives,” she said. “Connecting business leaders and educators is critical to ensure students are ready to enter the world of work after graduating from high school,” Snyder-Lowe added.
“Every career is rooted in foundational skills and experiences,” Lt. Governor Husted said. “Business and education partnerships add to each of these so students are ready for in-demand opportunities both now and in the future. These Business Advisory Councils continue to be great examples of how local partnerships benefit our school communities and Ohio’s workforce.”
“When students graduate, we want to make sure they carry with them a portfolio of knowledge, skills and real-world learning,” Interim Superintendent Siddens said. “Business Advisory Councils continue to add meaningful, dynamic and collaborative connections for students throughout the preK-12 experience that will benefit them now and in their future careers.”
Ohio is proud to be home to more than 120 Business Advisory Councils that engage with schools and collaborate about business and workforce needs, as well as educational programming that responds to those needs. To highlight the work of these councils, the Ohio Department of Education, in partnership with the Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Ohio Excels, Ohio Restaurant Association and Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, developed Ohio’s Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils.