Mt. Pleasant student to participate in education forum on Friday

DES MOIINES ? Mt. Pleasant Community High School senior Khayree Fitten will be among the students participating in a discussion on Iowa?s educational system Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Penningroth Media Center in the cattle barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

The event is being hosted by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. The discussion follows July?s Iowa Education Summit, designed to build consensus on how to create world-class schools and work force.

Several hundred people attended the summit but, for the most part, student voices were absent, state officials said. Friday?s discussion will be an opportunity to hear from students on such things as the qualities of a good teacher, how classes can be more relevant and whether internships with businesses should be part of earning high school credits.

Other students participating include Victor Gomez, Des Moines North High school; Danielle Hubbard, Van Meter Junior-Senior High School; Juana Hollingsworth, Waterloo East High School; Vivian Wu, Johnston High School; Derick Perkins, Starmont High School; and Katherine Kustra, Carroll Kuemper High School.