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WestNext Summit Brings More Than 100 Community Partners Together to Strengthen Career Connections for Hendricks County Students

HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. – More than 100 education, business, and community partners came together September 14 for the WestNext Summit, continuing a countywide effort to create stronger, more consistent connections between students and local career opportunities. Attendees represented a wide variety of industries and job sectors, along with Hendricks County schools, chambers of commerce, higher education, workforce organizations, and other community partners.

WestNext is a collaborative approach to work-based and career-connected learning designed to make it easier for schools and employers to work together while giving students meaningful opportunities to explore careers, build professional skills, and gain real-world experience.

The Summit focused on moving that collaboration from conversation to action. Participants explored how schools and community partners can create a more consistent process for developing partnerships, identifying employer and workforce needs, preparing students for experiences, and expanding access to opportunities across Hendricks County.

The event included perspectives from Dr. Tracey Shafer, Superintendent of Danville Community School Corporation, and Kelly DiBenedetto with the Danville Chamber of Commerce. Stacey Monnett with the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC) and Chris Ponsler, Director of K-12 Initiatives for Hendricks College Network, also presented the WestNext partnership framework, partnership lifecycle, and tools being developed to support schools and employers.

CIESC works alongside school districts and education partners throughout Central Indiana to provide collaborative programs, services, and resources that strengthen educational opportunities. Through its partnership with WestNext, CIESC is helping develop the framework and tools needed to create a more coordinated approach to work-based learning across Hendricks County.

Hendricks College Network serves as an intermediary in the WestNext effort, helping connect schools, employers, chambers, and community organizations while reducing some of the barriers that can make work-based learning partnerships difficult to establish and maintain.

“Our goal is to make connecting with our schools easier, more consistent, and more meaningful for employers while opening doors for students throughout Hendricks County,” said Ponsler. “There is a tremendous opportunity already happening here. WestNext gives us a way to bring those efforts together and build something that can serve the entire county.”

The September Summit represents another step toward creating a shared system in which businesses can more easily engage with schools and students can access career-connected experiences ranging from career exploration and employer projects to internships and other work-based learning opportunities.

WestNext will continue bringing education, business, and community partners together as the initiative develops, with a focus on creating a sustainable countywide system that benefits students, schools, employers, and the Hendricks County workforce.

Ready to get involved? Employers, educators, and community organizations interested in connecting with WestNext and helping create career-connected opportunities for Hendricks County students can visit hendrickscollegenetwork.org to learn more and take the next step.

About Hendricks College Network
Hendricks College Network works to connect education, business, and community resources to increase access to education, training, and career opportunities throughout Hendricks County. Through partnerships with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, employers, and community organizations, HCN helps build pathways that prepare students and adults for continued education and the workforce.

About CIESC

The Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing free and low-cost educational programs throughout central Indiana and beyond. Our mission is to partner with districts, educators, and students to provide high quality, sustainable, and affordable services that ultimately enhance academic achievement and operational efficiencies. Through our programs, partnerships, and collaborative ventures, we are working to transform the PK-12 education system.

“Our goal is to make connecting with our schools easier, more consistent, and more meaningful for employers while opening doors for students throughout Hendricks County” - Chris Ponsler