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By B.A. Little, Reporter • beverlyannette@southerntorch.com
JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. — On Thursday morning, over 30 people from industries, education, and businesses came together at the Community Led Workforce Planning Meeting at the IMPACT Learning Center – 21st Century Council located in Scottsboro.
This meeting addressed the Employee & Education partnership throughout school-age years with guest Speakers: Mr. Rob Paradise, Principal at Scottsboro High School and Mr. Jeff Tubbs, Asst. Principal/ CTE Director, talking about “Building Bridges with Scottsboro City Schools”.
Addressing the current challenges, Tubbs presented, not only the facts and figures but also the need for everyone to “Do Something”. Some of the challenges include sharing resources, discussing needs, skilled workers, training, conversations between businesses and education, and current and future needs of a trained workforce. He also offered some solutions in establishing a connection, such as this meeting, initiate communications and embracing collaboration.
Scottsboro High School offers real-life learning through these current programs with more to be added: agriscience, commerce & information technology, engineering, education & training, family & consumer science, health science, and work-based learning. Additionally, seniors are required to take Real Life Classes including Finance, Professional, Mechanical, and Domestic.
“We have to learn and teach to think outside the box. We all have resources that we like to store up and keep to ourselves, but this no longer works. We need to help students succeed and help students get in the workforce prepared in every way that we can,” stated Tubbs.
As part of the Mountain Lakes Chamber Gateway Initiative, Director of The Talent Development, Nancy Griggs, works to create developing partnerships with Jackson County Economic Development Authority, and Scottsboro City Schools, Jackson County Schools, Northeast Alabama Community College and programs like the IMPACT Learning Center provide. The unified approach ensures the skills gaps in our community are met through a collaborative approach.
The Chamber serves as the primary liaison between the business, education, and communities, taking the lead to ensure that all levels of education curriculum meet the existing and future workforce demands of business and industry. Along with the workforce partners (IMPACT Learning Center, Northeast Alabama Community College, Region 1 Workforce Development Council, Jackson County Economic Development Authority, Scottsboro City Schools, Jackson County Schools, Earnest Pruett Center of
Technology, as well as Training and Non-Profit Partners,) The Chamber, through this initiative, will deliver quantifiable improvements to the hiring of qualified, skilled workers to meet the current and future needs of our members.
An important objective is to “Define a Process to Connect Employers to Employees and Youth”. Since September, leaders in education and industry have presented these topics :
- Ready to Work Program
- EPCOT Programs & Activities
- Graduate Ready Program
- EPCOT Ready to Work Program
- Simulated Work Place – State’s Vision & Future of CTE
- NACC Apprenticeship & Work Experience Programs for Business & Industry
- AIDT Services & Free Training Programs for Business & Industry
- NACC FAME Program
- Building Bridges – Learning about Bridging the gaps between Students and Industry
The next meeting is scheduled for February 20, 2020, at 8:00 am.
To learn more about the Chamber’s Workforce Development Initiative or Community Led Workforce Planning Meetings, contact Nancy Griggs ngriggs@scottsboro.org or 256-259-5500.
