4 minute read
Hopkins Co. Schools
EDUCATING OUR YOUTH
Career & Technology Center preps students for careers and further education
WRITER: LORI HARRISON, HOPKINS COUNTY SCHOOLS
Hopkins County Career and Technology Center offers students hands-on classes and real-world experiences that prepare them for the future – whether they’re going straight to the workplace or continuing for further studies.
“Mainly, we take juniors and seniors,” said Principal Pam Todd. “In most of the program areas, they have to know their freshman or sophomore year because there are classes that they have to take at the high schools to get here. They have to apply to come here, and some of the specialized programs require an additional application and an interview process.”
Hopkins County Schools opened the center in November 2015 with two programs. It fully opened in fall 2016 with six programs. Career areas include health sciences, pre-engineering, automotive, industrial maintenance, information technology, and business. There are also specialized programs including EMT, EKG, phlebotomy, and Medicaid nurse aide.
“We take jobs from outside, such as automotive, industrial maintenance, and pre-engineering,” she said. “(Students) bring jobs in from the outside and work on them. That helps build their resume and their work ethic. Of course, they’re getting dual credit. When they get to a certain point in their career pathway, they can take an industry certificate exam and take that out to the workplace with them.”
The automotive shop is always busy with students working on cars and listening intently to instructor Adam O’Rear.
“In a normal shop, you have a shop foreman that oversees everything,” he said. “I run it the same way here. I have a foreman, clean-up crew, safety personnel. It’s pretty much run by them and facilitated by me.” They are currently in the process of getting an ASE Certification for the program.
“The program grows every year,” O’Rear said. “We’re adding new tools.” The program also has two new donated vehicles, including a hybrid, which students will be able to learn about.
CTC instructors and administrators count many success stories among their graduates.
“Every one of them is a success story if they’re in the field and working,” O’Rear said. He estimated that about half the employees in the shops at Watermark Ford and Watermark Toyota came through the CTC program. “Not only is it a success story for them and us, but it’s a success story for local industry, as well.”
Industrial maintenance instructor Eric Anderson said some of the program’s graduates go right to work while others continue their education.
“We like for our corporate partners to call us for references on students and potential employers,” Anderson said. “We want to be a resource for them to get employees.”
Austin Hoagland, a 2019 graduate who completed the industrial maintenance program at CTC, is one of many success stories.
“I enjoyed attending CTC,” he said. “It was a closer to college experience. “You get a lot of freedom and ability to learn as long as you put the effort towards it.
“The CTC and Mr. Anderson helped me get the job at Hibbs, which got me started with the career,” said Hoagland, who is currently a process technician at Berry Plastics. He earned two welding certificates at CTC and completed a semester of college hours. He then went into the same field of study at Madisonville Community College, earning an industrial maintenance mechanic certificate, industrial maintenance electrician certificate, and skilled operator certificate along with an associate degree.
The CTC gives out about 200 cords at graduation each year to students who finished their career pathway. Many of them finish multiple pathways. Students are eligible to work a co-op position with a local business after turning 18.
The CTC works closely with Hopkins County Schools’ Transportation Department, which allows multiple routes to be run from each high school during the day. This makes it possible for Advanced Placement students to take classes at CTC while completing their required classes at their home school.
The CTC works closely throughout the year with several local agencies and businesses.
“We have so much community service that’s gone out of this building in all areas,” said guidance counselor Amy Gamblin. For example, the business department has helped with Hopkins County Travel and Tourism projects as well as creating the monthly newsletter for Mahr Park Arboretum and running the electronic marquee the center shares with James Madison Middle School. “It’s really great because the kids get their names out there and make connections for later,” Gamblin said.
CTC works with industries to look at what businesses will need for the future, Todd said. One way this is done is through Advisory Committee meetings, which are held each spring and fall to get feedback from local industries.
“That’s how we keep up to make sure we are offering what is needed for our community,” Todd said.
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