Are Your Kids Ready to Compete? - Scott Oki (GNSEA)

August 11, 2009, 6:30pm

Summary:

Very special thanks to all the Members and guests for making the program such a successful and energizing evening. Thanks to Mr. Oki for providing copies of his new book along with bringing the very important issue of public education to the surface.

Detail:

From the Seattle Waterfront overlooking Puget Sound, Gen Next Members and guests spent an evening with Scott Oki discussing the current crisis in our public education system.  With refreshing openness, Mr. Oki, a well-known philanthropist, entrepreneur and new author, thanks to the recent release of his first book entitled: Outrageous Learning: An Educational Manifesto, highlighted the troubles facing our nation’s schools and gave his unique thoughts on how to solve them.

Having a room full of highly regarded community and business leaders in attendance, Mr. Oki and Gen Next had the rare opportunity to engage in an extremely candid and high level dialogue. He presented what he refers to as the “eleven planks,” foundational ideas which offer a straight forward vision on how we can positively change public education.  Some of these “planks” include longer school years, increased volunteer participation, local budgetary control, the elimination of standardized curriculum, early intervention and specialized instruction. 

Prior to founding Oki Developments, Inc., Mr. Oki retired after 10 years with Microsoft Corporation where he served as Sr. Vice President, Sales, Marketing and Service.  His personal mission statement is “to marry my passion for things entrepreneurial with things philanthropic in a way that encourages others to do the same.”