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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.

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...

Demand for pharmacy techs leads to new program

Bridging the Talent Gap Erin Albanese

Another hybrid session runs April 12 to July 30 and has room for up to 16 students...

Career exploration goes virtual

Bridging the Talent Gap Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

More than 1,700 students from Kent County and beyond took part in this year’s Groundhog Shadow Day event, the highest attendance ever...

Help wanted: auto mechanics

Bridging the Talent Gap Erin Albanese

Kent ISD and GRCC programs create a pathway to careers that can pay top technicians anywhere from $80,000 to more than $100,000 per year...

‘Chem-gineering’ unit encourages creativity

Bridging the Talent Gap Morgan Jarema

Project NEXT students are at it again, learning by doing...

Mental health checks and career exploration find virtual home in school districts

Multi Districts Janice Holst

A tool students can use with their phones is opening doors to careers -- many of them local -- and giving administrators a read on emotional wellness...

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