Education leaders from across Knox County discussed career training, artificial intelligence in the classroom, and the challenge of retaining teachers during the annual State of Education luncheon at Vincennes University.

The event, hosted by the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, brought together administrators from the South Knox, Vincennes Community, and North Knox school corporations along with leaders from the Vincennes Catholic schools. Each outlined current initiatives and long-term priorities for their districts.

Work-based learning opportunities were a major focus. South Knox Superintendent Jeff Cochran said a large share of upperclassmen now spend part of the school day in internships or job placements tied to graduation requirements.

“We have, I want to say it’s 40% of our kids, juniors and 40% of our seniors leave at some point during the school day to do internships and work based on opportunities,” Cochran said. “With the new career pathways … there is more and more of an emphasis and a push from the state for all of us to do that and have a great curriculum and add to our curriculum that we already have related to work based learning.”

Vincennes Community School Corporation Superintendent Greg Parsley described facility upgrades connected to those efforts, including new career and technical education spaces.

“We’ve just completed a 1.3, $1.4 million project with another $1.8 million to go on a culinary arts renovation, and putting a full service kitchen in for those kids,” Parsley said. “Careers that kids want to go into food service and hospitality is a huge one in our area, and trying to meet kids and the need for them for that.”

Artificial intelligence was another key topic, with administrators describing different approaches to classroom use and policy development.

Parsley compared the technology’s impact to the arrival of the internet.

“I think the work and things that are happening within AI, it’s truly transformational to the point of, I can remember when the internet came about, and I think that’s the direction that AI is going, and that’s you have to embrace that,” he said.

At Rivet Middle and High School, Principal Joe Maione said teachers are combining digital tools with traditional instruction.

“A lot of times in our English classes … close the Chromebook, put all that stuff away, let’s get some paper out and let’s do writing that way,” Maione said. “Then we have writing tools that we’re still using the technology. But it’s a lot easier for the teacher to say, ‘okay, when I got the writing samples written, it wasn’t like that.’”

Beyond classroom instruction, school leaders said staffing remains one of the most pressing issues. Cochran said districts are working to balance salaries and benefits with limited resources while emphasizing the long-term rewards of the profession.

“One of the things that we try to get across in interviewing folks, teachers in particular, are the intrinsic rewards that come with being in this business,” he said.

Parsley said recruiting local graduates into education and addressing housing availability are part of retaining employees.

“What has changed so much … is we’re having to pay very close attention to our young kids … so that we can be sure that we don’t lose sight of them so we can bring them right home,” he said.

The State of Education luncheon is the first in the Chamber’s annual series focusing on major sectors in the community.  Wednesday’s program was sponsored by the Chamber and Vincennes PBS and presented by First Vincennes Savings Bank.