where students can pursue credentials in certified nursing assistant to pharmacy technician. North Carolina funds these industry credentials, allowing students to graduate with certifications that open immediate employment opportunities or stack toward post-secondary education. Healthcare programming has expanded in response to regional workforce shortages. The district now employs three health science teachers who prepare approximately 30 certified nursing assistants and between 15 and 20 pharmacy technicians annually. Dills serves on a MAHEC committee out of Asheville that identifies healthcare needs across western North Carolina, ensuring the district’s programs align with employer demands. Harris Regional Hospital, an 86-bed facility affiliated with Duke LifePoint, partners with the district to host clinical rotations and internships in both hospital and long-term care settings. Early childhood education addresses another critical gap. The district created a pre-apprenticeship program that placed three high school students in preschool classrooms last year. “We’re growing our own so that we’re contributing to that workforce,” Dills explains, describing students who intern in the district’s preschool programs while earning credentials that prepare them for immediate employment or further education. PARTNERSHIPS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE Geography shapes opportunity in Jackson County, where tourism generates the largest employment sector and the rural setting limits traditional 280 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11
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