Virginia Career Works and Charlottesville Schools Form Partnership

PRESS RELEASE

 

Media contact: Amanda Korman, community relations coordinator, cell: (434) 604-0049; email: kormana1@charlottesvilleschools.org

 

REGIONAL WORKFORCE BOARD VIRGINIA CAREER WORKS AND CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY SCHOOLS PARTNER TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATORS

 

CHARLOTTESVILLE, October 23, 2024—A new partnership is designed to prepare students of today to meet the workforce needs of tomorrow.

 

The Regional Workforce Board Virginia Career Works Piedmont (VCWP) will partner with Charlottesville City Schools to design and develop focused programming that aligns with target hiring sectors and establishes pathways to employment. This will advance a robust workforce ecosystem that benefits education, talent, and employers. This will be one of the first partnerships between VCWP and a school division.

 

“As the workforce ecosystem continues to evolve, the Virginia Career Works Piedmont mission is to revolutionize workforce development through unwavering dedication to focused programming that supports industry needs. We value and support the work of Career Technical and Adult Education at CATEC. This partnership with Charlottesville City Schools is an opportunity to have a greater impact by developing pathways that connect career-seekers with relevant employment opportunities in targeted industries,” noted Sarah Morton, the Executive Director at Virginia Career Works Piedmont Region.

 

One of the key elements of the partnership is establishing industry advisory workgroups, composed of representatives from target sectors, to gather insights and guidance on workforce development strategies. It will better allow the schools to teach the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies (soft skills) needed by regional employers, and it will help students build economic mobility and success. This expanded advisory committee structure is based on a system already in place at the Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center (CATEC), which provides career training for adults and high schoolers in the region.

CATEC Principal Dr. Stacey Heltz, who also coordinates career and technical education for CCS, notes that, “The feedback from our industry partners has been invaluable to make sure that our students are prepared for careers. The partnership with VCWP will expand the reach and depth of this advisory network.”

The partnership will also expand high-quality work-based learning opportunities for students at CATEC, initially in the areas of culinary arts/hospitality and adult education. Already, Virginia Career Works (Piedmont Region) is actively working with Charlottesville’s alternative learning center, Lugo-McGinness Academy, to connect students with workplace learning.

“By working closely with industry leaders, Charlottesville City Schools is securing a bright future not just for high school students, or the adults who take classes at CATEC, but also for the city as a whole,” said Superintendent Royal A. Gurley, Jr.

This new partnership is a part of Charlottesville City Schools 2028 Strategic Plan, which includes a goal that all CCS learners will graduate equipped with a plan for the future.

 

Mayor Juandiego Wade shared that, “This partnership with VCWP is part of the City’s planning to ensure that CATEC remains a central and highly effective part of supporting workforce and industry needs across the region. One important outcome of this partnership is keeping our young graduates here at home.”

 

About Virginia Career Works
Virginia Career Works’ mission is to advance economic stability and growth by preparing and connecting people who want to work with employers who need to hire through its training providers and network of professional partners. Virginia Career Works is Virginia’s vital link between meaningful employment and any growing businesses, changing lives, and advancing economic prosperity.

 

About CATEC

Founded in 1973, Charlottesville Area Technical Education Center (CATEC) is a regional technical education center that helps high school students and adults obtain the jobs they seek. In July 2024, Charlottesville City Schools assumed sole ownership of the facility but continues to serve students in Albemarle and other counties. CATEC offers programs in auto service technology, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, electricity, fire service, emergency medical tech, veterinary science, and nurse assistant.

 

Career and Technical Education at Charlottesville City Schools

In addition to the courses and programs offered at CATEC, students in Charlottesville City Schools can enroll in career and technical education classes in areas such as commercial photography, fashion marketing, engineering, and urban farming.