While employers are praising public schools for graduating students with impressive results in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM-The Hard skills), they’re sending a strong message more can be done to improve the Soft Skills, work ready skills like communication, problem solving and teamwork.

While not an entirely new term, Soft Skills commonly refer to personal attributes that enable one to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people.

Russellville Independent Schools has not only accepted the feedback, they're doing something about it. Russellville Independent High School is partnering with Tom Harned, Executive Director of Logan Economic Alliance (LEAD), to sponsor this event during senior week.

Superintendent Leon Smith praised the work of Harned and LEAD for their rigorous work in moving Russellville and Logan County to become a Work Ready Community that allows our community to demonstrate workforce readiness.  Those criteria include high school graduation rates, National Career Readiness Certificate holders, community commitment, educational attainment, Soft Skills development and Internet availability.

The workshop leader is Greg Coker, author of the Soft Skills Field Manual and founder of The Institute for Soft Skills. His workshop, Soft Skills Boot Camp, is being delivered across the country to industry, public school systems, colleges/universities, chambers of commerce and economic developers.

The Russellville High School Soft Skills Boot Camp will be May 16^, led by Coker, a native of Franklin, who presents nationally and is also author of Building Cathedrals: The Power of Purpose.