John Warner newest member of SC Education Oversight Committee. Now what do we do to transform K-12 education in SC?

Submitter Photo - John Warner Submitted by: John Warner on Jan 23, 2011 at 5:02 pm Tagged with: Innovation, K-12 education Source: Swamp Fox

Swamp Fox Note: Below is an announcement that I have been appointed to the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee. My wifes's response was, "Do they know what they have done?" :-)

    The EOC provides regular, routine and ongoing review of the state's education improvement process, assesses how our schools are doing and evaluates the standards our schools must meet to build the education system needed to compete in this century.

OK, so now what do we do to transform K-12 education in South Carolina?

I'm a big believer in accountability. People do what is measured. I am excited about this appointment because defining success is the fulcrum of driving change that can transform K-12 education.

But the system we have is not getting the results we need. For example, here's a recent Forbes article about America Is Losing Its Edge In Innovation. We need an accountability system that incentizes behaviors that prepare students for the 21st century.

I would greatly appreciate any thoughts you have about what the proper accountability system for publicly funded K-12 education looks like.

Thanks a lot for your help.

John Warner

--------------------------------------------------------------

Columbia – A state leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, John Warner of Greer, SC has recently been appointed to serve as the newest member of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee (EOC). Warner fills the unexpired term of Charmeka Bosket, which will expire June 30, 2014.

Warner, Founder and Principal of InnoVenture LLC, has been appointed to serve as the business representative to the Senate Education Committee. Senator John Courson, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, made the appointment.

Warner received his Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Georgia and his B.S. in Accounting from Clemson University. Since 2000, Warner has worked to connect entrepreneurs and those with “big visions” with the resources they need to create change. His work with InnoVenture also includes the website, www.swampfox.ws that has 200,000 annual visitors and a weekly radio update broadcast statewide on South Carolina Public Radio to 60,000 listeners.

Recognized as a champion of entrepreneurs and informed solutions to issues, Warner is often called upon to publish and speak on education, leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurial success stories. He is a member of the Inaugural Class of the Liberty Fellowship, which promotes outstanding leadership in the state. Since 2004, he has served as the Director of the Council on Competitiveness at New Carolina. He also currently serves as the Director of the South Carolina Venture Capital Authority, which was established by the SC General Assembly to increase the availability of equity, near-equity, or seed capital for emerging, expanding, relocation, and restructuring enterprises in the state.

Active in community affairs, Warner served as the Director of the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2007 and served as the Director of Artisphere, an annual event that celebrates the arts and the rich international heritage of Greenville. For thirteen years, Warner was a leader in Greenville’s Cub Scout Pack 260 and Boy Scout Troop 260.

"Nothing is a more essential to the future of South Carolina than public education,” said Warner. “People do what is measured, so I'm excited about the opportunity to help measure the success of our children's education."

The SC Education Oversight Committee is an independent, non-partisan group made up of 18 educators, business persons, and elected leaders. Created in 1998, the committee is dedicated to reporting facts, measuring change, and promoting progress within South Carolina’s education system.

##

See 11256 other posts submitted by John Warner. Find articles, people, and videos related to: Innovation, K-12 education
Submitter Photo - Walter Ezell Walter Ezell

John, that is great news. I think there is a tendency for the higher-ups to micro-manage the curriculum. Having said that, I risk contradicting myself. I think there are certain skills every high school graduate should have, for survival, coping, citizenship or quality of life. Every child should know how to swim, work with tools, shop for groceries, cook simple meals, keep fit for life (with exercise and nutrition), perform investigations, detect scams, analyze arguments, understand the scientific method, excel at some form of art, read a map, understand body language. This list may sound strange and random, but all of it, ALL, is more important than, say, algebra. Especially swimming. How many people die because they don't know algebra?

No Author Photo Brown Dan

Dan Brown

John,your recently published views on SC K-12 education needs are valid so first of all I'd say "don't get unduly influenced by those with set agendas that differ substantially from yours". Specifically, focus on the worst problem of keeping kids in school till they graduate with a HS degree at a minimum. Requiring a HS degree or at least a GED for a drivers license going forward is still a good idea. And finally, we need to stop beating up on public schools as failures. It's absurd and wrong. Same as saying all people are bad because of one criminal. Use the resources we haven't used before to help public schools be more successful. Get some of our very capable retired people to help even if it means reduced dollars to go around. And finally, stop the stupidity associated with providing taxpayer support for private schools. Let parents make those decisions themselves and pay for it themselves. Good luck with this opportunity and work hard. I know you will.