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Bridging the Talent Gap

To maintain a thriving economy, students need to be prepared for high-demand, well-paying jobs, yet there are currently more jobs than skilled workers to fill them. This series looks at how schools are preparing students for the future workforce.

GRPS works to create direct teacher pipeline

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

GRPS was one of 44 districts across the state announced a year ago as part of the new program...

Career fair exposes students to some 40 employers looking to hire

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Breakout sessions featured panel discussions on resume-building, career pathway options, interviewing and more...

Educators Rising empowers future teachers

Wyoming Alexis Stark

The new class is part of a national effort that aims to draw high-school students to the profession...

Employers, meet your future workforce

Wyoming Erin Albanese

About 120 students learned of the many jobs out there from representatives of nearly 30 different professions...

Manufacturing lab offers core credits, industry certification

Northview Morgan Jarema

Starting this school year, every student who attends Northview Next’s Career Center spends two days a week inside a portable classroom turned manufacturing lab at the back of the East Beltline campus...

Teaching the future teachers

Bridging the Talent Gap Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kent Career Tech Center students get hands-on teaching experience as part of the new Teacher Academy program...

Regular school, meet real world

Kelloggsville Phil de Haan

Students at Kelloggsville High School get a chance to explore careers, gain valuable experience and make money as juniors and seniors...

CTE changed his life – he wants more students to benefit

Kent City Morgan Jarema

He went to Washington D.C. to plead the case to lawmakers for more career and technical ed program funding...

Kitchen prep is career prep for high school senior

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Godwin’s Keonna Foster is getting hands-on culinary training at a downtown restaurant with an accomplished head chef...

IT, culinary arts launching as middle-college options

Bridging the Talent Gap Erin Albanese

The Kent ISD middle-college program, Launch U, is offering two new programs, IT and culinary arts, as pathways to earn GRCC college credits...

Cracking the code

Bridging the Talent Gap Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

First Robotics coach Ryan Hoch will offer a summer Lego program, and has plans to add a robotics program to the middle school this fall...

Trades are a passion for this award winner

Bridging the Talent Gap Janice Holst

Senior Mia Ramos is one of 65 high-school students statewide to be named a recipient of the 2021 Breaking Traditions Awards from the Michigan Department of Education...

New courses allow students to earn IT certifications

Bridging the Talent Gap Erin Albanese

A new program at Wyoming High School offers the opportunity for students to earn credentials in information technology, helping pave the way toward in-demand, high-wage computer jobs...