EDUCATION & WORKFORCE

Preparing Tomorrow’s Talent Today

Employers across East Texas consistently rank talent as their top challenge. The Chamber responded by convening business, ISDs, higher education, and policymakers to align classrooms with careers and accelerate the development of a future-ready workforce.

Our work ensures students graduate with real skills — and employers can hire with confidence.

Our Focus Areas

Early literacy & numeracy (LongviewREADS! + LongviewMATH!)
AP & CTE alignment with employer skill needs
Workforce policy modernization (HB 8, Pell, dual credit)
Industry pathways through internships, certifications, and employer mentorship

Why It Matters to Business

Strong talent pipelines reduce hiring delays, increase retention, and give employers access to job-ready candidates. A prepared workforce is the foundation for economic growth.

Key Initiatives

LongviewREADS!

Built to tackle root causes of workforce readiness.

Employer engagement in literacy
Video series and school partnerships
Volunteer-driven reading support

LongviewMATH!

Mirroring literacy success to build numeracy, critical thinking, and STEM readiness.

Career Kickstart

A structured approach linking AP courses to:

Internships
Industry certifications
Employer mentorship
“Walking job interview” experiences

Superintendents Forum

All Gregg County ISDs aligned around:

AP Business with Personal Finance
AP Cybersecurity
CTE modernization
Dual credit and workforce needs

Five-Year Highlights (2021–2025)

Expanded LongviewREADS! with employer outreach and school partnerships.
Began LongviewMATH planning to strengthen numeracy across Gregg County.
Led a groundbreaking Superintendents Forum aligning AP courses and employer expectations.
Launched Career Kickstart to connect high-value coursework with real on-the-job learning.
Supported HB 8 reforms and federal efforts to modernize short-term Pell and workforce pathways.