Let's get to work

 

Students in the heavy equipment operator class and their new dozer

On Tuesday, February 6, the Career and Technical Education department of Goochland High School celebrated the donation of a Caterpillar D3 Dozer from the Sargent Corporation, (https://sargent.us/) to the heavy equipment operator program in the equipment bay at the CTE center.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Cromartie, Ed.D., welcomed guests, including Goochland’s own Grace Creasey, President of the Virginia State Board of Education; Emily Gullickson, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Education; Supervisors Tom Winfree, District 3, Charlie Vaughters, District 4, Jonathan Lyle, District 5; School members Chair Angela Allen, District 3,  Lucy Meredith Moses, District 1, and Ellen Robinson, District 5. Also in attendance was James Lane who was Goochland Superintendent to Schools from 2012 to 2016 and school officials and staff.

James Lane and Lucy Meredith Moses

Allen said she is grateful for the donation. “Sargent is an employee-owned company, its 450 dedicated employees have a say in the decision to make this generous donation to our school. We are truly grateful. Sargent’s task is to build and their themes of investing in people and let’s get to work perfectly align with Goochland’s goal to maximize the potential of every learner.

“We are so thankful to be the beneficiary of the Sargent’s legacy in action.” Allen challenged other businesses throughout the region to partner with our school division to build a bigger, brighter future for all Virginians.

Justin Embry of Sargent said that his company is always looking for new and better ways to attract young adults to the heavy civil industry. “From our collaborations with Goochland, we’ve observed a rise in student interest in the heavy equipment program, which increases the need to expose them to this bulldozer, because this is the equipment that they’re going to encounter when they enter the workforce. We feel this is an investment in people, future Sargent employees. With this donation, Sargent aims to elevate the heavy equipment program, with practical training and empowers students with first-hand experience with the latest and greatest that we can provide. We are certainly thankful for the partnership.” He introduced Sargent employees including Hunter Proffit, a graduate of the CTE program. “Hunter is an example of what every student in this program can become.”

Hunter Proffit

Proffit graduated from GHS in 2018 and thanked the men and women who put all this together. “I went to work as a laborer at Sargent the same summer and now am a senior foreman. If CTE didn’t exist, none of this would have been possible. Through teaching fundamentals of construction skills, teamwork, and a lot of life lessons, teachers dedicated their time and effort every day to help me improve my life. Mr. V, Mr. Greenway, Mr. Watson, and many others knew what it took to give us a foundation to build on for man years to come. It boils down to one simple phrase, that is also Sargent’s number one core value, and that is investing in people. This program, the classes, faculty, staff, and most of all this bulldozer is an investment for the future generations to come. Thank you for your guidance and leadership that played a big part in helping me lead and be here today.”

Cromartie explained that as the legend goes about a decade ago there was a need for a catalyst to forge and grow CTE. As happens often in Goochland, the right person at the right time, in this case Bruce Watson, arrived.

Bruce Watson and dozer

Back in 2013 a friend who worked in quarry said we need equipment operators, why don’t’ you do something about that in Goochland. I came back and talked to Dr. Lane who said let’s try it. We started this program with zero equipment, bought tools used to maintain equipment. Parks and rec donated old equipment that was too big and old to use in this department. We sold that and used those funds to buy more appropriate equipment. Now we own all of our equipment thanks to our business partners and some other funding. We are only one of two heavy equipment programs on the secondary level in the Commonwealth. Ours just happens to be the biggest and the best,” said Watson.

He thanked Lane for his vision and support, the school board, superintendents over the years for their support, and Tim Greenway CTE Chair. “Our business partners are the heart and soul of our program. This is the epitome is that support. We couldn’t survive without them.”

People make the difference. “When we started this program we needed an instructor,” Watson said, noting that it’s no secret that teachers are hard to find. “To find a heavy equipment operator instructor back in 2014 was on the verge of impossible, but we found the best. Mr. V (Mike Verasstro) was a heavy equipment operator in the Seabees (look it up, well worth your time), and a national heavy equipment rodeo winner so we got the very best. For seven years he led and built this program, retiring three years ago due to health reasons. “Enrollment in this program is now full because of him.” He was unable to attend in person but watched electronically.

Watson introduced graduates of the program, including 2018 graduate Brandon Eubank, who is now the instructor in this program. They unfurled a banner “In honor of Mr. V”.

He said that Skills USA is a student organization for trade and industrial education in America. “Last year, our students competed on the state level in the heavy equipment operator category. I’m proud to say that the state champion for heavy equipment operation, William Mendoza, came from Goochland High school.”

Mendoza, said Watson, will graduate from GHS on Friday, walk across the stage, collect his diploma, and start a job soon thereafter making about $70k a year with no college debt.

Many facets of the CTE program were involved in the event including culinary arts, who prepared and served delicious refreshments and the Marine Corps Junior ROTC that handled parking media classes provided graphics.

Katherine Nava-Ovalie, the sole female student in the heavy equipment operator program, said that her entire family is involved in that industry. While her career may not involve operating a bulldozer, the experience she will be able to use skills and lessons from the program in all facets of construction contracting.

Creasey congratulated Goochland Schools for their commitment to workforce development in pursuit of educational excellence.

We each have differing gifts, which, when discovered and cultivated lead to successful, satisfying lives that contribute to the rich tapestry of a successful community. Kudos to our schools for recognizing the value of CTE as they strive to maximize the potential of every learner.