TURNING WORKFORCE DEMAND INTO STUDENT OPPORTUNITY Translating workforce demand into meaningful student opportunities is the responsibility of the district’s career and technical education system. Ronnie Seal, Curriculum Specialist for School-toCareers, says the district’s approach is guided by a simple principle: preparing students for fulfilling, sustainable futures.“It’s all about trying to make sure that we’re preparing our students to live productive, happy, and fulfilling lives,” Seal says. To do that, the district aligns courses, industry-based credentials, and dual enrollment opportunities with high-demand, high-wage career sectors. Regional partners have identified advanced manufacturing, trade and logistics, and energy, oil and gas as primary drivers, with additional emphasis on technology, environmental management, and biomedical sciences. Seal explains that industry advisory boards play a hands-on role in shaping programs. “We’re learning from them and integrating their safety protocols, their cleaning protocols, and their tool management protocols into our skilled craft courses so that students are used to that culture,” he says, 253 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 ST. CHARLES PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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