Remember that song from the ’70s by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes? It said, “Wake up all the teachers, wake up all the preachers, wake up all the doctors because . . . the world has changed so very much from what it used to be.” Next week at the Greater Waco Education Summit, 11 segments of the community, including parents, students, educators, businesses, non-profits, faith-based organizations, government agencies, health care providers, media and scholarship providers, will have the opportunity to “wake up” and think ahead about the state of education in our city.

The task will be to work together to develop a community expectation of higher education that truly leaves no child left behind.

The U.S. Department of Education reports that one in four students quits high school. The news is even worse in the African-American and Hispanic communities with a dropout rate of one in three.

But it doesn’t take the federal government to tell me that many are being left behind. Something must be done to curb the dropout rate so that our students are prepared for increased economic development opportunities and a higher quality of life.

So, Waco. Wake up. Think ahead. Join in this discussion

Some things you will want to bring to the summit: your creativity, your desire to be a part of the solution, your respect for other people’s opinion, your attention, your support, and your enthusiasm.

It wouldn’t hurt to bring your best manners. There are a few things you should leave behind: blame, shame, the chip on your shoulder, prejudice, resentment, pessimism and your cell phone.  

Waco, we’ve slept long enough.

For more information and to register, go to www.educatewaco.org or call 710-1911.

Carol Dugat , executive assistant to the CEO of the Dwyer Group, has a community blog about East Waco on wacotrib.com.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Waco Convention Center