SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Local educators from Sylacauga City Schools will participate in a series of Educator Workforce Academy events sponsored by the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce and the East AlabamaWorks Regional Workforce Development Council.
Sixteen educators, four from each school in the city, will begin the Educator Workforce Academy on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 with the first of four special days that have been set aside for the teachers to learn about the workforce needs of business and industry located in Talladega County. East AlabamaWorks Executive Director Lisa Morales said, “Teachers need to know what they are preparing students for once they leave school. The Educator Academies get teachers out of the classroom, and into local business and industry, so they can see first-hand the jobs that are available, and the education and training students need to be successful in those jobs.”
The academy on Tuesday will start with a breakfast presentation by Josh Laney, the Senior Director of Workforce Development for the Alabama State Department of Education. After breakfast, the teachers will tour the Blue Bell Ice Cream plant before traveling to Lincoln for a tour of the Honda plant. After lunch, the teachers will attend the East AlabamaWorks Quarterly Workforce Meeting at the AIDT Honda Training Center. The meeting will feature a panel discussion highlighted by Alabama Workforce Council Chairman Tim McCartney, Alabama Community College System Vice Chancellor Jeff Lynn, Alabama State Department of Education Assistant Superintendent of Education, Career and Technical Education/Workforce Development Division Tommy Glasscock, and Honda Manufacturing of Alabama VP of Manufacturing Mike Oatridge.
The same group of educators will participate in three additional Workforce Academy days over the next few months. The additional days will cover industry sectors such as construction, healthcare, internet technology, job training, and more.
“We are excited about the Educators Workforce Academy as it should give our teachers a chance to see and experience the environments where our students will work in the future,” said Dr. Jon Segars, Sylacauga City Schools Superintendent. “By sending teachers from all grade levels, we will be able to transfer this learning directly back into all of our schools and reach all of our students. This is the type of professional development that provides a return on investment that we always seek, and we are anxious to see the results.”
