Work Based Learning in Goochland

 

Logo created by Chelsea Manning as part of WBL

As the cost of higher education climbs, and the mismatch between education and vital skillsets intensifies, providing opportunities to explore different career paths at the high school level, sets students on paths leading to satisfying, successful, and necessary careers.

Goochland High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, chaired by Bruce Watson, exposes students to a wide, and expanding, array of job possibilities including agriculture, architecture and construction; manufacturing; hospitality and tourism; and small engine technology. CTE prepares its graduates to move on to higher education, the military, or well-paying jobs. Recently, the CTE internal marketing firm, Market Up, rebranded CTE to Work Based Learning (WBL).

On January 21, Market Up students, under the direction of faculty member Erin Yearout-Patton, made a presentation about WBL to the Board of Supervisors.

Ms. EYP, as she is affectionately known, reflected on our school division’s goal of maximizing the potential of every learner.  “It’s catchy, easy to remember, but it’s more difficult in practice.” she said. “I see my amazing colleagues ensure this mission and realize that the heart of the charge is engagement.”

The focus of WBL is on the students, but also on their impact on the county’s economic goals. Using an example close to home, Ms. EYP, wearing her “proud mama” hat said that her son recently completed the emergency medical technician course through CTE, logged a hundred hours with “exceptional men and women at fire stations across this community” and passed his nationally registered emergency medical technician exam. Now, he “runs” rescue for Goochland County, which demonstrates that WBL is a return on investment.

WBL consists of 12 school-coordinated workplace experiences that are related to a student’s career goals interests, integrated with instruction in partnership with local businesses and organizations.

Students explained how they collaborated on crafting a brochure that outlines the CTE career clusters that provide in depth exposure to various fields.

Chelsea Manning, a GHS junior, who aspires to be a pediatric nurse, outlined her experience in service learning by partnering with Goochland Powhatan Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (https://goochlandpowhatan.casa/) by working with its director Renae Townsend, who was Manning’s fifth grade Spanish teacher. She created the logo promoting the CASA Community Challenge, a fund raising scavenger hunt and auction to be held in April. This will evolve into Manning’s senior project, which could lead to an internship.

Another junior, Melvin Roper, explained that his role in the marketing campaign was to meet with district and school leaders to identify key objectives for WBL. These included increased community awareness of WBL, education of students and their families of the value of WBL, and professional development for staff and teachers. The result was an attractive information dense trifold flyer.

Market Up students worked as a team with a project manager, who is interested in working in that field. Collaborating with each other and GHS staff, the team used flow charts to guide and track the progress of the project.

A vital part of WBL is interaction with all stakeholders including industry partners who make work shadowing and apprenticeships possible.

Of the many learning opportunities WBL provides, perhaps the most valuable is development of soft skills—communication, teamwork, time management, problem solving, creativity, leadership—that build the personal foundation for success in any environment.

Students Chase Crane and Johnny Vega Olivers contended that WBL is an opportunity to take skill sets learned in the classroom and apply it in the working world, whether it’s a senior project or job shadowing.

They said that putting the needs of others in the community before their own sets an example. The service to the community aspect taught by parents and leaders of our Marine Corps Junior ROTC program about being a good citizen and remembering that there are always people who need help is important.

WBL creates a pipeline to employment and creates a citizenry that lives the GHS vision to prepare the next generation to make a positive impact.

Please go to the county website https://www.goochlandva.us/ click on the watch county meetings tab, pull up the January 21 supervisors’ meeting and watch this wonderful presentation starting at about the 17 minute mark.