Education Matters

Education Matters is a partnership between Business, Government, and Education - working to increase the value of education and educational attainment in North Carolina.  Now, it has a podcast.  Listen in to whats going on in education and what really matters for our students and economy.  Local education experts speak to you about the hot topics and what you need to know... because Education Matters.

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Lamar Mitchell

Lamar Mitchell is a native of Hickory, NC. Since moving back to his hometown in 1999, he has been committed to non-profit work. Prior to being Executive Director for Catawba County Champions of Education, he served as the campaign director for Catawba County United Way. He is a member and Past President of the Hickory Rotary Club and is also a current board member of the Catawba County Partnership for Children, Catawba County Historical Association and was appointed by Representative Joe Hackney to serve on the Nursing Scholars Commission. In his spare time he is involved in a number of artistic pursuits, including writing the recent theatrical production of Blue, a play based on the novel by Joyce Moyer Hostetter about the Catawba County polio epidemic in 1944, and playing drums for the rock and roll band, Mr. Woo.

Tracy Hall

Tracy Hall has a 26 year history working with businesses, schools, non-profit and government agencies with programs involving children and students. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Education Matters in Catawba Valley, an initiative of Catawba Valley Community College. Prior to this position, she worked for Hickory Public Schools as the Public Information Officer and has also served as the Director of Development and Marketing for the Catawba Science Center.  She has worked as a Preschool and Kindergarten Director in Greensboro and for the North Carolina Zoological Park as the Special Events Director. Before relocating to North Carolina she lived in California and worked for the City of Napa Parks and Recreation Department and was responsible for all children's programming including day camps, afterschool programs, and special interest classes. Tracy continues to support positive activities for children through parks and recreation as a current member of the City of Hickory Parks & Recreation Commission.