Kingsport chamber event highlights work-based learning in schools

BLOUNTVILLE — Work-based learning is more than one of the latest watchwords in education, according to WBL students from area school systems doing it and representatives of businesses where those students work. It's also a glimpse into the future, as well as a shaper of the future workforce of the region, they said. About 100 WBL student and some business officials attended the Work-Based Learning Showcase at Northeast State Community College Wednesday morning. They also heard a panel in the Ballad Center for the Performing Art. In a surprise presentation near the end of the forum, Jeff Frazier, director of manufacturing workforce development for Eastman Chemical Co., received the inaugural WBL Champion award, given jointly by Kingsport City Schools and Sullivan County Schools. Frazier, who when he came to the stage thought Eastman was getting an award, is a graduate of Gate City High School in Scott County, Virginia. As a senior in the machining program at the Scott County school, he had the chance to do an apprenticeship at Eastman, then got to go to work there. "This (WBL) is the workforce of tomorrow," said Frazier, who chairs the Kingsport Education and Workforce Development program for the chamber. FORUM Jeff Fain, of the Kingsport-based Eastman, was forum moderator and asked the pre-determined questions of the panel. Alan Rutledge of Tele-Optics in Kingsport, Tekai Shu of Strongwell in Bristol, Tennessee, and Brandy Hard of the Birdie Shop in Bristol represented businesses and industries in WBL programs. Rutledge said WBL students gives these businesses new perspectives, and can even help develop new ways of doing things. "Passion and skill can go hand in hand. There's real value to show jobs can do both," Hard said. WBL students on the panel were Mary Nell Shipley, a West Ridge High Schooler working at the Birdie Shop; Carter Cavin, a West Ridge High Schooler at Eastman; Jeremiah Rojas, a Sullivan East High Schooler with the Bristol Fire Department; and Cailyn Cox, an East High Schooler at State of Franklin Healthcare. Rojas said recently retired Bristol Fire Chief Mike Carrier was a great teacher. "If you ever had a question, you went to Carrier," Rojas said. He recalled answering a call with Carrier from a woman whose dog was lost, only to realize Carrier had already found the dog, hiding in the backyard, and was playing with the canine. Overall, he said WBL "helps you see the future." Cavin said work-based learning "got my foot in the door at Eastman" and that he knew three of the four people who interviewed him for a position there. Shipley said WBL students "don't just sit in the classroom," referring to the hands-on, minds-on style of career technical education, or CTE, learning. Other speakers included Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development employee Michael Pugh, an apprenticeship specialist with the department; Matthew Spinella, director of WBL and industry engagement for the state Department of Education; Sullivan County Director of Schools Chuck Carter, who formerly headed up CTE for the state education department; Bo Shadden, director of career technical and post-secondary education for Kingsport city Schools; and Vanessa Bennett, chief operation officer for the Kingsport chamber. Rutledge summed the whole event and WBL by saying, "There's more than one way to be successful."