RH Newsletter Feb 2026 - Flipbook - Page 9
R-H Leads Effort to Create a Future Ready Region
The energy was palpable – a shared recognition that
collective efforts could reshape the region’s future and
that of our children. As those in attendance took part in
collaborative discussions to further the conversation, key
themes emerged. The leaders expressed that students
need more than technical skills. They require adaptability,
critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
This event wasn’t a theoretical exercise. Attendees
discussed actionable strategies for transforming the
Rochester region’s educational and economic ecosystems
for the benefit of all. Practical recommendations also took
shape. They include:
establishing clearer industry partnerships.
Left to Right: Tracy Gyoerkoe, of the CTE Technical Assistance
Center of New York; Thomas Felton Jr., Rush-Henrietta Director
of Career and Technical Education; Dr. Barbara Mullen, RushHenrietta Superintendent; and Melanie Russo and Andrea Tutttle,
both of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
The cafeteria was quiet at first as educators, industry
leaders, and government representatives from throughout
the region settled in at Rush-Henrietta Senior High
School. While making some last-minute preparations,
Superintendent Dr. Barbara Mullen understood the
event’s importance.
“It is time to partner together to prepare our students
for a workforce that is being transformed by emerging
technologies,” Mullen explained at the November event.
The attendees listened intently as she outlined the shifting
landscape each organization is facing. “New workforce
positions and roles are emerging that didn’t exist five years
ago and the pace of change is only going to quicken.”
creating more agreements between districts and
post-secondary institutions.
developing work-based learning experiences that
reflect today’s work environment.
designing flexible learning models that can adapt
quickly to technological changes.
By the end of the event, each participant committed
to continued collaboration in the future. The meeting
represented more than a simple discussion. It was the
first step toward needed regional transformation and
a commitment to preparing students not just for a
workforce, but for a world of continuous innovation.
Thomas Felton Jr., Rush-Henrietta’s director of Career and
Technical Education, shared that the region’s economy,
once dominated by traditional manufacturing, is constantly
transforming itself. “Our region is faced with a daunting
challenge as it strives to identify the most appropriate
ways to develop the next-generation workforce in an era of
rapid technological change,” he says.
Event registrants represented a diverse group of regional
influence. They included Barilla America, NY Inc., Greater
Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Golisano Institute for
Business and Entrepreneurship, Pike Construction Services
Inc., RochesterWorks!, and the William and Sheila Konar
Foundation among many others. Local K-12 school districts
and higher-education institutions also were on hand to
help drive the forward-thinking conversation.
During the Future Ready Region event, Senior High School
student, Jessika Garung, explored a virtual reality system
to learn more about career opportunities. John Lynch,
of New York City-based Transfr, offered instructions
about how to get the most out of the experience.
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