News + Events

The Peak Innovation Center was the hub of collaboration and career-focused education as Fort Smith Public Schools (FSPS), the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, and regional industry leaders came together for the Workforce Pipeline Summit. The event, designed to showcase innovative efforts in workforce development, brought together educators, students, and business leaders to address the evolving needs of the local job market.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Fleming, author of Redefining the Goal, captivated attendees with his insights on preparing students for successful futures by aligning education with workforce demands. 

“The summit was a great opportunity to show off how Fort Smith Public Schools connects students to careers through early career learning opportunities, business and industry partnerships, and robust career and technical education programs,” said Dr. Gary Udouj, Director of Career Education and District Innovation.

Industry professionals highlighted the return on investment (ROI) of student apprenticeships, emphasizing the positive impact of hands-on learning experiences. 

Participants also had the opportunity to tour the Paxton/Patterson Career Readiness labs at Chaffin Middle School, where they witnessed firsthand how hands-on learning environments equip students with essential technical skills. 

Stephanie Tindall from International Paper attended and sat on the School and Industry Partnerships panel discussion. Stephanie said, "The Workforce Pipeline Summit defines collaboration between industry and educators. Developing our future workforce generation takes both parties to invest time and resources. Today, we can share our practices and learn techniques to develop continuously to meet the needs of our workforce. Today, the programs and guests from Dr. Flemming, Be Pro Be Proud, and Paxton/Patterson demonstrate the investments we as a community are putting forth towards our workforce."

The success of this year’s summit highlights the district’s commitment to preparing students for prosperous careers while fostering strong connections between education and industry.

For more information about Fort Smith Public Schools and its career readiness programs, visit peakinnovationcenter.org