Larry Ishmael understands that there are few things as important as our next generation. Our children face a highly competitive global economy and we are not doing enough to prepare them for success. We share a common belief and a mutual desire to make sure our kids are educated by a system that prepares them to succeed.

    As the Chairman of the Board of Directors of our local Chamber of Commerce, I see from the perspective of business leaders the importance of good schools. The companies that employ the graduates of our schools need to know that when they hire a diploma or degree holding graduate that an individual is able to meet certain standards. If graduates can't perform the tasks required on the job then their diploma is a meaningless piece of paper and our school system has failed. That is when employers either look to hire foreign workers to reside in the US, or when companies choose to send work off-shore.

    Unfortunately our Congress has left our children behind. We need a Congressman like Larry Ishmael with an education background to refocus Congress on the issues that will truly bring advancement to our schools.