Page 15 - Wilkes County NCG Flipbook

Area Education

Institutions Meet

Workforce Needs

by Andrew Smith WILKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE
W ilkes County’s education

institutions – Wilkes County
Schools (WCS) and Wilkes
Community College (WCC) – offer a myriad of career goals,” Faw says. “This allows juniors information they’re learning is actually
programs to support, enhance and expand the and seniors the opportunity to enroll in CCP related to the jobs in their field of study.
learning opportunities for students and their pathways and earn college credit, thus building Work-based opportunities help students
lifetime earning potential. momentum in their education process. secure jobs in their field and often serve as a
steppingstone to employment with the
“Ultimately, education is about training and “We focus on earning certificates and stackable company they’re placed with.”
teaching individuals to go to work,” says Wayne credentials so that when a student leaves high
Shepherd, WCS’s Career & Technical Education school, they will have the necessary credentials Apprenticeship Wilkes started in 2018 to help
(CTE) director. “There is a fantastic partnership to secure a job or continue their education,” meet the needs of our workforce as a youth
between WCS and WCC. The leadership of both Faw adds. “Whether students want to earn a apprenticeship program. A joint venture
institutions want what’s best for kids and what’s certificate, diploma or degree, we encourage between Wilkes County School Systems, Wilkes
best for our county.” them to explore career options that will allow Community College and local businesses, the
them to be employed in the service area and earn program includes industrial maintenance,
Wilkes County Schools is committed to a family sustaining wage. cybersecurity, CNC machining and information
developing career-minded students from an technology, with plans to add construction and
early age. By the time a student completes eighth The CCP program provides qualified pre-nursing in the coming year. The program
grade, they will have likely met with a school students the opportunity to pursue career and has been successful for all involved; employers
counselor and had the opportunity to take an college coursework, tuition free, while they are obtain the skilled workforce they need, students
entry-level CTE course such as computer science in high school, giving them a jumpstart on their secure jobs with a livable wage, and the college
discoveries, engineering and design. workplace and college preparation. Wilkes and provides instruction.
Ashe Early College High Schools are specifically
“The courses that we offer in middle and high designed for students to simultaneously earn a “In my 30-plus years in education, this is the
school exist because a business need, either high school diploma and an associate’s degree at only program I’ve seen that ends up being a
locally or regionally, has expressed itself,” no cost to the student or the family. ‘win’ for everyone involved,” Shepherd says.
Shepherd says. The shift in focus and relevancy Within the first year, the companies involved in
has led to growth in the program: CTE courses When a student’s high school requirements Apprenticeship Wilkes estimated a 200 percent
across Wilkes’ middle and high schools have an are complete, Wilkes Community College has return on their financial investment.
enrollment of 7,400 students. numerous ways for learners to further take
advantage of local education opportunities.
Once students progress into high school, Short-term certificate and diploma programs “In a rural area like ours, folks think they have
to go off somewhere to get a good paying job,
their education options increase. Kim Faw, are best for those interested in skilled trades to but that’s simply not the case,” Shepherd adds.
Wilkes Community College’s Vice President of learn employable skills quickly, while a range
Instructional Support & Student Services, said of associates of applied science degrees allow “Through our apprentice program, we can fill
WCC Career Coaches are in each of the public graduates to enter the workforce and earn a workforce need with local people, who then
high schools in Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany bachelor’s degrees in the future. Other students earn a solid income that helps the local economy
counties. These coaches work with students to may complete associates of arts or sciences and – and we can do it at a much faster pace than
develop an education plan that aligns students’ transfer to a four-year institution to finish their hiring people from outside the area.”
aptitudes and interests with a specific industry bachelor’s degree.
or career. Shepherd and other educators meet regularly
“Many of WCC’s curriculum programs, such as with regional industry leaders and local officials
Beyond the traditional high school diploma culinary, horticulture, business and engineering, to ensure education programs for high school
track, many students opt to take advantage of have a work-based learning component … and college students, as well as adult learners,
early college high school and pre-apprenticeship from basic job shadowing and industry visits align with current and future industry needs.
opportunities, as well as the state’s Career through internships, work experiences and
& College Promise (CCP) programs, which apprenticeships,” says Work-based Learning “As businesses change – which is a constant –
encompass the CTE pathways. Director Beth Foster. our education structures and curricula have to
be flexible and nimble,” Shepherd says. “We’re
“Our goal is that every student entering high “The hands-on learning component is so crucial trying to set things up to be flexible and respond
school would have a plan combining high for our students,” Foster says. “Students can quickly to the needs of local businesses as well as
school and college courses aligned with their see how the classes they’re taking and the advancements in technology.”

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