Baucus, Juneau, Stearns Bring Butte Jobs Summit to Montana Classrooms

Teachers will have the Opportunity to Show Economic Development Summit Live in Classrooms across the State

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus, along with Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau and Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns announced today that the Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte next week will be available live over the internet for Montana teachers to use in their classrooms.

“Today’s students are tomorrow’s workers, and we’ve got to do all we can to prepare them to join the workforce of the future and create the good-paying jobs they need to stay in Montana,” Baucus said. “Bringing the Economic Development Summit to Montana schools will provide teachers with a powerful tool to expand their classrooms beyond four walls and bring their students face to face with some of the brightest business minds in our state and around the world. I am so proud to invite Montana students to join our effort to find Montana solutions for Montana jobs.”

“This is a great opportunity for students to hear from business leaders and learn more about the skills they’ll need to succeed in college and in their careers. Education is a fundamentally important quality of life issue, not just for individuals, but also for families, for communities, and for Montana,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau.

"Our young citizens in the classrooms across Montana are the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s economic opportunities and responsibilities," said Sheila Stearns, Commissioner of Higher Education. "Workforce development and job creation begin with access to information and knowledge. Bringing the jobs summit into the classroom is a great step."

The Economic Development Summit will take place on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, September 13 and 14 and will be streamed live over the internet for teachers to show in classrooms across the state.

Baucus was instrumental in summoning the Summit’s line-up of influential participants including legendary investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett; Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer; Chairman and CEO of GE Jeff Immelt; media pioneer and internet executive Barry Diller; U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu; Disney President and CEO Bob Iger; Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Gordon Mills; and CEO of Sabre Holdings Sam Gilliland. Baucus will also bring ambassadors from China, Chile, Ireland, New Zealand and Japan to Montana to participate in the Summit and tour Montana businesses as part of an effort to create new trading partnerships for Montana producers.

The two-day jobs summit is free and open to all Montanans. For more information and to register for the summit Montanans may visit: http://www.montanaeconomicsummit.org.

Contact: Kate Downen 406-839-4713/Kathy Weber 406-698-1477/Jennifer Donohue 202-224-2651