Tennessee High School and J. A. Street & Associates signed a partnership agreement on March 9 for the first State Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Tennessee. The construction Pre-Apprenticeship agreement ensures students who meet the requirements of the course standards, complete the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 Construction Industry Certification, and have successful attendance and discipline records will be guaranteed an interview with the partnering company. J.A. Street & Associates is the first construction company in the Northeast Tennessee to take advantage of a pre-apprenticeship pipeline to meet their growing workforce needs.
“A Pre-Apprenticeship pipeline is one of many of the advantages of a Registered Apprenticeship Program,” said Tyra Copas, State Apprenticeship director for Tennessee. A pre-apprenticeship is a program or set of strategies designed to prepare individuals for entry into Register Apprenticeship Programs (RAP). Pre-apprenticeship programs have varied program elements; however, at the core, places an individual on a pathway to employability through a RAP.
This pre-apprenticeship program was a collaborative effort through the expertise of Tennessee High School construction teacher Brad Goodman, cooperation of Local Workforce Development proponent from Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (April Eads), Bristol Tennessee City Schools director of Career & Technical Education (CTE), Deidre Pendley, and Copas.
Through a partnership with Northeast State Community College and the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM), J.A. Street developed two Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Construction and Metal Buildings. This Memorandum of Understanding between J.A. Street and Tennessee High School is for the purpose of preparing a skilled workforce aligned with the framework of J.A. Street’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. The pre-apprenticeship at Tennessee High provides a seamless pathway for students to enter into an apprenticeship (long-term employment) beginning at $11 per hour with increases in pay every 6 months leading to at least $18 per hour upon completion of the 4-year apprenticeship.
“This program helps us to align the regions CTE programs with our apprenticeship programs,” said Heath McMillian, executive director of Economic and Workforce Development at Northeast State and RCAM.
“Our goal is to provide high quality CTE programs in a variety of high wage, in-demand, and/or growing careers available in our Bristol area. We have over 20 CTE Programs of Study that provide a seamless pathway to a career,” said Pendley. “This pathway consists of career exploration in elementary and middle school to determine possible career paths, then we provide relevant high school curriculum and hands-on experiences, industry certifications, early post-secondary opportunities (dual enrollment/credit/AP/CLEP), work-based learning (in school and in local business/industry), and pre-apprenticeship programs.”
Goodman and Pendley recommended a successful construction senior student, Lucas Worley, to J.A. Street through the Pre-Apprenticeship program. Lucas interviewed at the J.A. Street offices in Blountville and was hired. Lucas will earn hours towards the four-year Registered Apprenticeship Program from his NCCER and OSHA10 certifications as well as actual work hours during his Work Based Learning (WBL) course. This WBL course allows him to leave Tennessee High to travel to the J.A. Street construction jobsite each school day at 1:15 p.m. The course also allows him to work to the end of the day and on weekends.
“The THS Construction Pre-Apprenticeship program, along with the Apprenticeship partnership with RCAM and J. A. Street is a model program that can be duplicated throughout not only in the construction industry but in all industries.” said Copas. “Both Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeships are a pathway to sustainable employment for so many in our state, and it is a workforce solution that directly addresses the workforce challenges our employers face every day.”
For individuals in the community, apprenticeships offer a high-quality career pathway in which they can obtain paid work experience; receive virtual or in-person classroom instruction; obtain a nationally recognized and portable credential; a means to a secured future in high-paying jobs; and complete without obtaining debt. Apprenticeships allow employers to develop and train their future workforce with the skills specific to their organizational needs. Communities benefit from these apprenticeships as it provides the best implementation of a public-private partnership by improving the workforce; supporting local employers; and changing the economic trajectory of households in Tennessee.
Tennessee High School CTE Director Deidre Pendley (far right) touts the pre-apprenticeship program.
Provided by Apprenticeship TN
Tennessee High School and J. A. Street & Associates signed a partnership agreement on March 9 for the first State Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Tennessee. The construction Pre-Apprenticeship agreement ensures students who meet the requirements of the course standards, complete the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10 Construction Industry Certification, and have successful attendance and discipline records will be guaranteed an interview with the partnering company. J.A. Street & Associates is the first construction company in the Northeast Tennessee to take advantage of a pre-apprenticeship pipeline to meet their growing workforce needs.
“A Pre-Apprenticeship pipeline is one of many of the advantages of a Registered Apprenticeship Program,” said Tyra Copas, State Apprenticeship director for Tennessee. A pre-apprenticeship is a program or set of strategies designed to prepare individuals for entry into Register Apprenticeship Programs (RAP). Pre-apprenticeship programs have varied program elements; however, at the core, places an individual on a pathway to employability through a RAP.
This pre-apprenticeship program was a collaborative effort through the expertise of Tennessee High School construction teacher Brad Goodman, cooperation of Local Workforce Development proponent from Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (April Eads), Bristol Tennessee City Schools director of Career & Technical Education (CTE), Deidre Pendley, and Copas.
Through a partnership with Northeast State Community College and the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM), J.A. Street developed two Registered Apprenticeship Programs in Construction and Metal Buildings. This Memorandum of Understanding between J.A. Street and Tennessee High School is for the purpose of preparing a skilled workforce aligned with the framework of J.A. Street’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. The pre-apprenticeship at Tennessee High provides a seamless pathway for students to enter into an apprenticeship (long-term employment) beginning at $11 per hour with increases in pay every 6 months leading to at least $18 per hour upon completion of the 4-year apprenticeship.
“This program helps us to align the regions CTE programs with our apprenticeship programs,” said Heath McMillian, executive director of Economic and Workforce Development at Northeast State and RCAM.
“Our goal is to provide high quality CTE programs in a variety of high wage, in-demand, and/or growing careers available in our Bristol area. We have over 20 CTE Programs of Study that provide a seamless pathway to a career,” said Pendley. “This pathway consists of career exploration in elementary and middle school to determine possible career paths, then we provide relevant high school curriculum and hands-on experiences, industry certifications, early post-secondary opportunities (dual enrollment/credit/AP/CLEP), work-based learning (in school and in local business/industry), and pre-apprenticeship programs.”
Goodman and Pendley recommended a successful construction senior student, Lucas Worley, to J.A. Street through the Pre-Apprenticeship program. Lucas interviewed at the J.A. Street offices in Blountville and was hired. Lucas will earn hours towards the four-year Registered Apprenticeship Program from his NCCER and OSHA10 certifications as well as actual work hours during his Work Based Learning (WBL) course. This WBL course allows him to leave Tennessee High to travel to the J.A. Street construction jobsite each school day at 1:15 p.m. The course also allows him to work to the end of the day and on weekends.
“The THS Construction Pre-Apprenticeship program, along with the Apprenticeship partnership with RCAM and J. A. Street is a model program that can be duplicated throughout not only in the construction industry but in all industries.” said Copas. “Both Pre-Apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeships are a pathway to sustainable employment for so many in our state, and it is a workforce solution that directly addresses the workforce challenges our employers face every day.”
For individuals in the community, apprenticeships offer a high-quality career pathway in which they can obtain paid work experience; receive virtual or in-person classroom instruction; obtain a nationally recognized and portable credential; a means to a secured future in high-paying jobs; and complete without obtaining debt. Apprenticeships allow employers to develop and train their future workforce with the skills specific to their organizational needs. Communities benefit from these apprenticeships as it provides the best implementation of a public-private partnership by improving the workforce; supporting local employers; and changing the economic trajectory of households in Tennessee.
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