West Ridge recognizes 30-plus work-based learning students

BLOUNTVILLE — Work-based learning, known as WBL, is expanding rapidly in Sullivan County Schools and beyond.It is becoming the norm, rather than the exception, in the region's schools. Students learn, get high school credit and draw a paycheck at the same time.In cooperation with the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and Sullivan County Schools, more than 30 WBL students were recognized Thursday morning from West Ridge High School, not counting some who started WBL in the fall.Sullivan East High School at 9 a.m. on Feb. 23 is having a first-time event to honor more than 50 students in WBL there.Across the state line in Southwest Virginia, the chamber and Scott County Schools recently announced WBL opportunities for Gate City, Rye Cove and Twin Springs high schools at Eastman Chemical Co. Seven from Gate City and Twin Springs were chosen.In addition, one of the new WBL sponsors for West Ridge students, Strongwell in Bristol, Virginia, this year expanded from Tennessee High in Bristol to West Ridge and Sullivan East."Work-based learning is a proactive approach to education," said Lora Barnett, Kingsport Chamber's senior director of workforce development and government relations."It bridges the gap between high-demand, high-skilled careers in Tennessee that are looking for the next generation of experienced professionals," Barnett said. "We are appreciative of all of our business partners and could not do this work without their continued support of students and our educators," Barnett said.Te-Kai Shu oversees community relations for Strongwell, which has its first WBL student from West Ridge this semester. He said next year his employer's program is expanding into Washington County, Virginia, schools.A WELDER'S STRONGWELL STORYAmong 21 applicants to Strongwell in Bristol for WBL, ranging among two states, five schools and four school systems, Strongwell in Bristol chose West Ridge senior Gracie Sproles. She said she is being mentored by a master welder at Strongwell and enjoys the work culture there."I'd like to get my electrical certification," Sproles said after the event when asked her plans after high school.She is headed to a national SkillsUSA competition in April and said she is on track to earn her associates degree in metal fabrication from Northeast State Community College before she walks the stage for her West Ridge diploma this spring.Her goal? To work on pipelines. In the mean time, she works 16 hours a week at Strongwell, on Thursdays and Fridays, and gets paid like most WBL students do.EASTMAN CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCECAM Industrial Solutions has three West Ridge students on its payroll for the spring semester: Connor Pritchard, Luke Quillen and Dawson Tuell.Tuell said he has taken all the construction classes he can at West Ridge from instructor Lloyd "Sport" Putney."It prepared me in some respects for what I'm doing," Tuell said. "I plan to work at CAM for the following year" and get his journeyman certification. Then, he said he will go to Northeast State.However, while at CAM after graduation he plans to earn his journeyman status. His eventual plan is to go into the construction business.Daryl Mills of CAM explained that the company is a descendant of a series of businesses that provided construction and maintenance inside the Eastman campus in Kingsport."The population of people who want to do this type of work is shrinking," Mills said.GSN FILTRATIONLogan Good is doing work-based learning at GSN Filtration, which Amory Mott of GSM said is a U.S.-based company that sells fabric used in wastewater treatment plants in the United State and worldwide.Good said he started taking career technical education classes his sophomore year, his first at West Ridge after it was formed from Sullivan North, South and Central high schools. Those included principals of machining and principals of manufacturing.His plan is to go to East Tennessee State University and participate in the joint engineering program with Tennessee Tech, eventually transferring to that School or the University of Tennessee to earn his bachelor's degree in engineering.BIG PICTURESally Shipley, work-based learning coordinator for West Ridge the past three years, said WBL helps students find a potential future career or in some cases find what they don't want to pursue.In three years, West Ridge participation has grown from 10 students to 52 this year.See the online version of this article for a list of the other students recognized Thursday."Go forth and make us proud," West Ridge Principal and Dr. George Laoo told the students.The others recognized, listed under employers, were:GOVERNMENTSJacob Bellamy, Nathaniel Baker and Makensie Barger in Kingsport Fleet Maintenance; and Katie Culberhouse, Sullivan County Attorney General's OfficeGENERAL BUSINESSESTamia Fletcher at Coldwell Banker; Ryan Manning at Bank of Tennessee; Avery Bledsoe at Take 5, Jerimiah Carroll at Painteless Dent Repair; Cash Waller at FYE; Rylee Haynie Colonial Heights Animal Hospital; Emilee Williams at Integrated Health Concepts; Tyrus McKenzie at McKenzie Painting, Tianna Meade at Second Chances Equine Connection; Tianna Meade ant Ingles and John Deere.HAIR SALONSMadison Chafin and Brett Parker at Hair Benders; Brie Barnett and Lauren Meadows at Bombshell; Ayla Cody at Urban Roots; Madison Haynie at Salon 108; Grace Johnstone at Total Look; and Laynie Jordan at Blush Salon.SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOLS, TEACHINGTeaching as a profession: Berkely Pafford at Holston Elementary Kindergarten and West Ridge special education; Alexa Litton speech and pathology at Holston Elementary and Encompass Health; Bryson Horne, Indian Springs elementary second grade; Camille Nottingham, Indian Springs second grade; and Mallory Jones, Indian Springs Kindergarten.SULLIVAN COUNTY SCHOOLS, CODINGCoding: Kyler Cradic and Gabriel Mohler; and West Ridge Cafe': Miriam Manna, Brycen Poland, Savannah Soloman and Natasha Salisbury.