EDTalks Poses Questions on Next Step in Education in W.Va.

Members of the state’s education community gathered in Huntington Thursday for EdTalks, a speaker series sponsored by the Charleston based nonprofit The Education Alliance.

EDTalks, modeled after the innovative speaker series TedTalks, highlights speakers with innovative ideas for education in the state. Thursday’s speakers at the Marshall’s campus event were Interim Marshall University President Gary White and State Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano. Both speeches focused on monetary limitations and the usefulness of an education no matter the level. Martirano said it’s about West Virginians using their abilities to help students around the state.

“Everybody in this room has a role, it’s not always donating money, but using time and talent,” Martirano said. “It’s a level of using your ability to persuade and advocate, it’s the ability to reach your hand down and help the less fortunate young people in our community’s.”

Marshall Interim President Gary White said it can be challenge to find ways to get things done when money isn’t there.

“We have a challenge to maintain financial viability, notwithstanding the loss of state support, notwithstanding a change in our federal government as to how federal dollars flow into educational institutions, we have an obligation,” White said.

Both White and Martirano understand the challenges in higher education and public schools and the need for innovative ideas.