Superintendent Shaner Engages with Vice President Pence

Rochester Community Schools (RCS) Superintendent Robert Shaner, Ph.D., was honored to engage in a conversation with Vice President Michael Pence on Friday. Pence was in the Detroit metro area visiting the construction site of Frank Rewold and Son to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary as a fourth-generation business in Rochester. Shaner attended the event as a community leader and trusted business associate.

Photo of the two talking at the construction site

Superintendent Shaner engages with Vice President Pence

Shaner shared the following narrative about his experience with the vice president.

“The last time I saw a U.S. President was in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993, while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Politics aside, it was a thrilling experience. I always try to set a good example for my children and display the behavior that I wish to see in others.

“Vice President Pence was nothing but a gentleman. He had done his homework. He knew I was going to be at the Rewold celebration, and he had a few questions for me about the district’s educational programs, specifically those that expose students to opportunities in business and industry.

“We talked about CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs and how Rochester Community Schools, with the help of companies like Frank Rewold and Son and FANUC America, is working to build strong partnerships with the business community. I proudly shared with him that Rochester Hills is home to one of the largest producers of robots in North America and that the robotics program at Adams High School is the largest in the state of Michigan.

The two speak outside the Rewold conctruction site

Superintendent Shaner Speaks with Frank Rewold

“It was a great conversation that was more than a couple minutes long. Considering the vice president’s busy schedule, I appreciate him taking the time to talk with me. I also appreciate that Frank (Rewold) thought to include me in the celebration.”

Shaner is committed to continuing the dialogue about public education with local and national leaders. He attended the Mackinac Policy Conference in June, where he talked with government officials and news correspondents about preparing students for the professions of today and tomorrow. “I welcome every opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with successful leaders, both inside and outside of the educational sector. These interactions provide the opportunity to expand our viewpoint so we can grow as leaders and make a positive difference,” said Shaner.

About Rochester Community Schools

With more than 15,000 students, Rochester Community Schools is one of the top ten largest school districts in the state of Michigan. The district continues to lead the way as an exemplary public school system, not only in the state of Michigan, but around the world. This past year, RCS was the only district in the United States to have three individual schools receive National Blue Ribbon status.

Rochester Community Schools maintains a balanced budget that is sustainable, promotes growth, and supports high-quality student programs. With a highly skilled, caring staff, all students are afforded the opportunity to receive a world-class education. Ninety-six percent of students graduate, and of those, 95 percent attend post-secondary schools.

The district offers CTE programs in the areas of Marketing and Sales; Finance and Financial Management; Business Administration; Computer Programming; Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design; Drafting and Design Technology; Engineering Technology; and Mechanical Drafting.

“By exposing our students to a wide range of diverse opportunities, we inspire them to find their passion—whether it’s serving in the military, which is the original path I took, or working in the medical field, technology, engineering, or skilled trades—we instill the hope, enthusiasm, and optimism needed for our community’s children to pursue their dreams,” said Shaner.

Business Partnerships

In November 2015, the community overwhelming voted to invest in RCS schools. By approving a $185 million bond proposal, the funds are in place to enhance the teaching and learning environment for all students and more than 1,500 staff members across the district.

“The pace at which our contractors have been working is truly remarkable. We are fortunate to have such skilled professionals from Frank Rewold and Son and French Associates who are dedicated to keeping the projects on schedule and true to the district’s mission,” said Shaner. “We are also proud that our construction efforts have helped drive the local economy. At the beginning of this past school year, 171 contractors employed 1,460 employees who worked nearly 200,000 hours on the construction projects.”

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Frank for inviting me to celebrate the success of his family-owned company. It is always an honor and a pleasure to celebrate Team Rewold,” said Shaner. “Our stakeholders and partners play a key role in our district’s success, and I am confident that through our continued collaboration, we will continue to exceed expectations in preparing the next generation for a bright future.”

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Rochester Media publishes The Community Edge digital newsletter of recently posted articles from Rochester Media, a hyper-local news outlet covering all things in and around Rochester, Rochester Hills, and Oakland Township. Send us you press releases and news happenings to editor@rochestermedia.com.

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