DeKalb Chamber Executive Director and Chamber Foundation CEO Matt Duffy recently participated in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Leads Fellowship Program Master Class on K-12 Data, Assessment, and Accountability.

The program was held May 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C.

Duffy was one of 33 participants selected from 22 states. The program will continue through the end of the year online. The master class features a series of collaborative discussions and speakers.

The program included graduates from the 12 previous Business Leads Fellowship Program cohorts. The participants engaged in discussion regarding data and accountability’s K-12 system role and how the metrics impact the workforce and education connection.

“Participating in this Master Class provided a unique opportunity to collaborate with leaders from across the country,” Duffy said in a news release. “Sharing insights on how we can better use data to align our educational outcomes with the needs of our local economy is essential to creating a talent pipeline for the continued growth of DeKalb and the surrounding region.”

The master class is designed to empower business leaders with tools and networking to advocate for a more effective and transparent education system. Attendees share practices to help bridge the skills gap and improve economic mobility in states and communities.