Happy New Year! As we launch into 2019, I wanted to take a moment to thank our education, industry and community partners for your continued support of our mission: Where Passion Meets Opportunity. 2018 was a banner year with the launch of the Work Ethic Distinction, our middle school Teacher Externship Program, the ACT Work Ready Communities Initiative and Project Second Chance – a short term skills training program for currently incarcerated, non-violent offenders. Other highlights included the opportunity to be a part of the Tennessee state team invited to the first ever White House STEM Summit and we welcomed a new member to our Rutherford Works team – Ms. Regina Ward – in August. More outcomes and our photo gallery are included below.
We are excited to add a new event in 2019 that highlights soft skill development at the elementary school level. The first annual Rutherford County Amazing Shake competition, being held on January 16 and 17th, will culminate with 2 fifth graders being crowned champions of the handshake and interpersonal skills contest. Our winners will move on to compete in the national Amazing Shake contest in Atlanta in February.
Thanks to all of you who have helped us expand career exploration by speaking to a class, partnering with us at an 8th Grade Pathway Fair or hosting a field trip. Thanks to all of you who helped students learn to work by supporting work-based learning and our high school internship program. Finally, thanks to all of you who recognize that in order to fill the jobs in our community, we’re going to have to do things differently, be willing to take risks, and work together.
Here’s to a prosperous new year for all of Rutherford County!
- Beth Duffield, SVP Education & Workforce Development
