About Us
Our History
K-64 Learning was born out of a 2016 population study of Catawba County which indicated an ongoing gradual decline in the local working-age population. With efforts to proactively drive economic and population growth, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners identified education as one of eight critical growth sectors in their strategic plan and commissioned K-64 Learning to lead the way. On January 17, 2017, the Catawba County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution to form K-64 and approved its bylaws. The Board also voted to approve seed-funding to help kick-start the initiative.
In March 2017, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed to formalize the K-64 partnership among the initiative’s founding partners: Catawba County, The Chamber of Catawba County, Catawba County Economic Development Corporation, Catawba County Schools, Catawba Valley Community College, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools. We have continued to collaborate and establish best practices to meet growing workforce demands.
Pictured Above: The Mark Story Innovation Wing, named in honor of K-64’s former CEO, Mark Story, a pioneering advocate for education in Catawba County.
Accomplishments
- K-64 provided funding to purchase 14,000 Chromebooks for K-12 students. This reduced inequities and provided access to a technology device for evert Catawba County public school student.
- Hotspots were purchased through grant funds and made available to students with no home internet access.
- $300,000+ invested in training teachers and 400+ educators trained within a 3 year period.
- Piloted three (3) character development programs and a screening tool in select schools and scaled to include all K-8 students.
- Collaborated with the local Boy Scouts chapter to provide the Medical Explorers program to high school students interested in medical careers.
- 200+ employers engaged in campus tours, work-based learning experiences and program development.
- Expanded pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities to high school students.
- Provided K-64 Scholar Advisors for each high school in our three school districts to help guide high school students toward careers through College and Career Promise pathways.
- Expanded business driven academies targeted at training and retaining a skilled workforce and offering stackable credentials.
- Launched xplore64.com, a web based resource for connecting local talent to Catawba County businesses.
Meet the Team
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