Jessie Schook serves as Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development at KCTCS. In this role, she is tasked with building strong relationships with business and industry stakeholders and state partners to develop and improve innovative workforce initiatives. She is also focused on improving the employment success of graduates and current students. Prior to this position, Jessie Schook was the AVP of Workforce and Economic Development and the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions where she supported the 16 KCTCS colleges in their delivery of customized training and rapid response program development.

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Before joining KCTCS, Jessie held a position at Greater Louisville Inc., the Metro Chamber of Commerce, as the Director of Education and Workforce Connectivity. Over the past 15 years, she has held positions touching many facets of education and workforce development including classroom instruction, curriculum design, and work readiness program development. Jessie has earned bachelor’s degrees in English and Spanish from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in Hispanic Studies from New York University. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Louisville and her research is focused on demonstrating the return on investment in public-private partnerships for a variety of stakeholders including employers, learners, and institutions. An education advocate, Jessie believes that when employers and educators work in lockstep, students find their passions and build experience more easily, creating a more competitive workforce.

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