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Junkyard Dogs Robot "marched" in parades on Goochland Day and at Homecoming
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On October 22, Goochland Schools hosted local business and education roundtable at
the Residence Inn in West Creek. This was the latest session of a dialog begun
years ago to help our school division, especially the Career and Technical
Education (CTE) department, prepare students for jobs.
County Administrator Dr. Jeremy Raley welcomed the group and
introduced Bruce Watson, CTE director who said, “I have the best job in the entire
school system.”
Chance Robinson, Assistant Director of Economic Development,
talked about the importance of bringing local businesses together with schools
to create the talent that helps them thrive and attract new companies to
Goochland. He mentioned feedback from a local business praising the quality of an
apprentice from the CTE program. “It is a
great example of how we build a pipeline with our school system to help existing
industry. Small businesses want to start and grow in Goochland.”
He said that the $5 billion investment in Goochland recently
announced by Eli Lilly (see GOMM “With a B”) whose commitment to partner with
our schools to promote STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics)
education will be transformational.
Watson touted the CTE heavy equipment operator program, one
of only two in the Commonwealth. “Ours is the biggest and the best. We own all
of our equipment and enrollment in the program, which, has been in existence
since 2014, is full.”
Dr. Beth Fowler, coordinator for student advancement at
Goochland High School, discussed the advanced college academy (ACA) dual
enrollment program. This enables students to earn an associates degree from
Reynolds Community College, giving them two years of college credits and saving
their families substantial college tuition. Many of the courses are offered at
no cost to students and there is financial assistance for any family that needs
it to ensure that all kids who can benefit from the program participate.
The number of students completing the dual enrollment
program, which began in 2018, has quadrupled. The 2026 GHS graduating class is
on track to have 99 students out of 250, earn their AA degrees. A third of
students in GHS are participating in the full program. There are also “a la
carte” students who “dabble” to see if college is for them.
Fowler contended that the “secret sauce” to the success of ACA
is that the number of enrollees is not limited. This results in huge growth in
the program not just for degree seeking students, some students simultaneously participate
in other advanced programs.
The ACA offers the same academic rigor as college classes in
a familiar setting. This, contended Fowler, builds students’ confidence that
they are ready to deal with college. The ACA students also learn “soft skills”
of professional communication, time management, and how to be successful in the
world of work.
Fowler reported on some of the earliest ACA graduates. One
is working on a doctoral degree in physical therapy. Another finished college and
started a successful business. Another is on track to earn a master’s degree in
five years.
Hunter Willms, a 2020 ACA graduate who earned a business management
degree in three years, touted the flexibility of the program. He said that he saved
$30k at got into the workforce a year ahead of his classmates. He is now a
project engineer.
Mikayla Pryor, now a kindergarten teacher at GES, said she appreciated
the program, which allowed her to graduate in December and was able to take a permanent
substitute teacher job, which segued to a permanent position at the start of the
current school year.
Watson said that work-based learning opportunities ranging
from job shadowing that gives a glimpse into a particular career, to full-fledged
apprenticeships, which can lead to job offers after graduation, are a crucial part
of CTE.
Carl Gupton President of Greenswell Growers on Hockett Road
(https://greenswellgrowers.com/
great fresh greens, available at Food Lion), who has welcomed several GHS
student interns said that “their soft skills are amazing. They’re smart and willing
to jump in and do whatever is needed, including coming in on a Sunday to help with
an emergency order.”
“We want to be ahead of the game, so our students are ready
to enter the workforce, or go on to a two- or four-year college,” Watson said. “With
the high-tech companies coming to Goochland we are going to start an academy next
fall for logistics, mechatronics, and robotics.”
He displayed a photo of GHS award winning Junkyard Dogs
robotics team, which participated in a world competition Texas last May, working
with a team from Israel. Watson explained that robotics is a huge part of
instruction in Goochland Schools starting in kindergarten.
Coursework in the academy will open career pathways to
careers in robotics, mechatronics (the design and analysis of mechanical
systems, such as sensors, actuators, and mechanical structures. This can
include anything from robotic arms and automated machinery to consumer products
like cameras with auto-focus mechanisms), logistics, computer science,
cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. He said there will be a 19 percent
increase in these careers in coming years.
The academy program will be implemented in four phases with “on
and off ramps” adding courses and work-based learning opportunities each year
yet allowing for students who may change their minds about participating.
Both Amazon, under construction on Ashland Road, and the Lilly
plant will bring high-paying high-tech jobs to our backyard. The Academy, said
Watson, will help our kids be ready to fill these and similar jobs coming to the
region.
Armstrong pointed out that the skills taught in the new academy
will also benefit local partners and be responsive to workforce needs of the
local partners in the room, the smaller companies that are the bread and butter
of the Goochland economy.
Stan Corn, of Alarms, Inc (https://www.alarmsinc.net/), who has been
an active partner with CTE advisory committee since its beginning, encouraged attendees
to get engaged and meet “these great kids and see what they’re doing to aim
them in the direction we’d like to see them go.” Mock interviews, career day in
January, and a Veterans’ initiative provide opportunities to see up close and
personal what’s going on in Goochland schools, provide opportunities to do
this, said Corn.
CTE, said Watson, goes to great lengths to ensure that
students and companies are a good match for job shadows.
Gupton reported that every student CTE has sent to
Greenswell has been well prepared for the job. He also said that students are
covered under the school division’s insurance while interning or shadowing to ease
some of the “red tape” when dealing with minors.
Virginia Economic Development has been a great partner in this
initiative, said Watson. Goochland is exploring collaboration and partnerships with
other educational entities including Reynolds and Brightpoint Community Colleges
and VCU.
The academy curriculum is being developed to allow high
school students to take part in other programs including the Marine Corps Jr.
ROTC program, which at 150 cadets, is the largest in the region.
Seniors will be encouraged to participate in apprenticeships
as part of the academy. “We want our students to come out of high school with an
industrial certification. We want them to get out into industry and see what’s
going on,” Watson said.
This program could be a model program for the Commonwealth
of Virginia, contended Watson. “To have a four-year academy with high tech
skills for major industries will take our students a long way.”
The cost of equipment for the program is estimated at $175,
424, which will be purchased next spring. Watson is submitting grants and indicated
that some federal funding may be used.
All of these programs are part of goal of the Goochland
School Division to ensure that every graduate is well prepared for the next chapter
in life.
