CRAIG HOCKENBERRY SUPERINTENDENT THREE RIVERS Economic Center (CRAIG HOCKENBERRY) Thanks to the WEC for asking me to say a few words about education.I have had an exciting journey in public education over the last 23 years. I have worked in 3 different districts urban, rural, and now suburban. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY I have worked as a teacher, an asst. principal, a principal, and a superintendent. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY Aside from the great kids, families and staff I have worked with over the years I found it incredibility rewarding to work with partnerships both public and private to help impact the lives of children. I started my career in CPS where I was involved in a national movement called Community Learning Centers. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY. The idea was based on a concept that would make schools the hub for services and the focus would be on “the whole child”. It was a very multi-dimensional approach to education. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY All of these services were based on a sustainable business model with strong public and private-partnerships. The big picture was that each of these partnerships provided a service that would impact academics. As the services and partnerships increased we saw a dramatic climb in student achievement. Oyler gained national attention as we developed this super model for public and private partnerships and we caught the attention of NPR-Marketplace and American Public Media. From this came an awarded winning documentary titled, Oyler, One School, One Year. The documentary has been screened across the nation and has won several national awards. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY I was honored to be a part of this effort to transform a community. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY After 15 years, I left Oyler and I was fortunate enough to work in Adams County for 2 years as Superintendent of Manchester Local. Manchester was located 71 miles east of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. Manchester was the opposite of Oyler. It is one of Ohio’s most rural school districts. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY During my 2 years in Adams County one of the most interesting observations was that the children were as poor as kids in the urban centers and poverty was still at a high level, but the family unit was still intact. Unlike Oyler where there was a complete deterioration of the family unit. CRAIG HOCKENBERRY