Twice a year, the LCPS Business Advisory Council, made up of school district administrators, community college administrators, economic development leaders, business and industry leaders, elected officials, and representatives of local municipalities meets to discuss ways of focusing the Career and Technical Education program to better serve both the students and the businesses that call Lenoir County home. Typically, these meetings are held in the boardroom at the central office, but this year, CTE leaders wanted to try something different.
“We wanted an opportunity for our business leaders and community partners to see and hear from our high school students,” said Amy Jones, the Director of High School Education and CTE programs.
The meeting was convened at South Lenoir High School, but before BAC members got down to business, they got to see some of the real work a CTE student is doing.
“Students could show them what they’re doing in their classes, show them the hands-on skills they’re learning, and be able to explain what they’re doing,” Jones said. “I think a lot of times, we can tell them what our programs are doing and the things the students are experiencing, but when they see it for themselves, it makes more of an impact.”
From FFA members showing off their rabbit, Cotton Ball, and their full range of agricultural skills, construction technology students building a house, HOSA students reading CT scans, automotive technology students demonstrating wheel balancing and the replacement of brakes and even one student showcasing her interior design business, it was clear to the advisory council that students are getting ready for their careers after high school.
Trey Cash, Vice President for Lenoir and Greene County at the N.C. Global TransPark Economic Development Region, said he was blown away by what the students have been able to learn and accomplish.
“When you’re here on campus talking to students, seeing the skills they’re doing, it really helps us as a business community, and as a parent, to know that our students are getting ahead and they’re going to be great citizens to Lenoir County,” he said. “It’s impressive to see students are learning something that they can go outside of school and apply.”
Though this is the first time the BAC has met outside the boardroom, the members of the advisory council say they loved what they saw and would like to see more student showcases in the future.
“It was a big success,” Jones said. “Whenever we get our students out in front of people, they are able to do amazing things, and we just want to be able to show them.”