Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) program is a Virginia-based initiative designed to build a regional workforce pipeline.
Administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the program begins in middle school and continues through high school.
As of this academic year, GO TEC labs are in 76 middle schools including ones in Montgomery, Pulaski, Giles, Narrows, William Byrd and the City of Radford.
Christiansburg Middle School serves as the first in Montgomery County. Megan Atkinson is the CTE administrator for the MCPS division.
“The program is trying to solve workforce needs for manufacturing,” according to Atkinson. “It will help middle school students know what careers manufacturing actually needs.”
Atkinson said the $150,000 funding is being provided by a grant from the GO TEC program.
These labs provide hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment to help students explore career pathways. Those training modules are automation and robotics; precision machining; IT coding and networking; welding; healthcare technologies; mechanical and electrical engineering; and specialized sectors like precision and controlled environment agriculture.
GO TEC uses a “hub-and-spoke” model to connect early exposure to advanced training.
“Students can work with robots, where they might even build an assembly line,” Atkinson said. “GO TEC also provides industry tours.”
The local Spectrum Brands manufacturing site in Blacksburg is one of the many partners, participating through tours and discussions on what education students might need to work there. Others like New River Community College and the NRV Regional Commission have also stepped up to provide more information for students.
The overall grant runs for two years, and each teacher has to go through GO TEC training. Last week, the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce provided a $700 donation to help with teaching items.
Atkinson called this year a pilot year, and the county’s plan is to take the GO TEC to all four middle schools in Montgomery County.
During the school day, students can take the program as elective.
Atkinson feels the program is crucial in explaining manufacturing careers.
“Each age group is always different. Now, they are experiencing, even feeling and seeing, what the careers are like. Kids don’t know what they don’t know, and we want to provide opportunities what are out there,” she said.
The MCPS goal is to have the program accessible to any student in Montgomery County.
“We have to show jobs are available in these career paths,” Atkinson concluded.
