Amy Horton, a veteran workforce development and education expert, has been named Conexus Indiana’s director of Workforce and Education. In this newly created position, Horton will oversee Conexus Indiana’s signature programs, including Hire Tech, Conexus Interns and A+ Partners.
Horton has 20 years of federal and state policy, program and administrative experience in education and workforce issues. She joins Conexus Indiana’s executive team after serving for three years as policy and research director for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), where she led research projects and implemented strategies to increase student success and ensure alignment of PLTW’s K-12 STEM programs with state and federal policies.
Claudia Cummings, Conexus Indiana’s vice president, Workforce and Strategic Initiatives, will expand her role with the addition of Horton. “Conexus Indiana celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year. And while we have many milestone accomplishments to celebrate, we continue to look for new opportunities to strengthen Indiana’s advanced manufacturing and logistics position,” said Steven F. Dwyer, president and CEO of Conexus Indiana. “With the addition of Amy to our executive team, Claudia will focus her talents on uncovering new and innovative programs and initiatives to continue our organization’s growth and impact for years to come.”
Prior to her role with PLTW, Horton served as assistant superintendent for student achievement and improvement and as a senior policy advisor with the Indiana Department of Education. Horton earned her Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Denison University and her law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington. Her early public policy career included positions with the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Education.
“Amy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Conexus Indiana, and her skills complement the work our team conducts every day with thousands of students, educators, and business executives statewide,” Dwyer said.
Cummings added, “Amy will undoubtedly help us continue to strengthen the pipeline of qualified talent for Indiana’s growing advanced manufacturing and logistics industry.”
As Director of Workforce and Education, Horton will oversee Conexus Indiana’s keystone advanced manufacturing and logistics (AML) education program, Hire Tech, which has reached more than 5,000 high school students, and awarded nearly 4,000 industry-recognized credentials and 10,000 dual credits since 2012. She also will work to grow Conexus Indiana’s A+ Partners, a statewide program that matches more than 250 businesses with local high schools to enrich students’ educational experiences, and the Conexus Interns Program, which places hundreds of students in companies for summer work-and-learn experiences.