SANFORD - Central Carolina Works (CCW) -- an educational initiative by a consortium including Central Carolina Community College, local schools, business, industry, and community leaders -- presented the 3rd Annual Bridging Education and Careers Summer Symposium on June 20-21 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. CCW funds the placement of career and college advisors in each of the public high schools in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties. These advisors work one-on-one with students to help them take advantage of the state-funded Career and College Promise (CCP) program.

The symposium, made possible by the Education Workforce and Innovation Fund (EWIF) grant from the North Carolina Governor's Office, offered a unique opportunity for collaboration as it connected high school math, science, and Career and Technical Education teachers to local industry. This collaboration allows for more effective bridging of the gap between education and the work world as teachers were able to see first-hand what demands exist within industry. With the information the teachers garnered through the tours, presentations, and discussions, they were presented with an opportunity on creating a Career-Focused Unit (CFU) to incorporate into their curriculum. The CFU is a unit embedded within the standard curriculum that incorporates course relevance to career fields. This allows the teacher to connect what the students are learning to real world application in the workplace.

Dr. Brian Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development, welcomed symposium participants. Mary Schmid, CCCC Director of Secondary Partnerships, presented a conference overview.

During the symposium, participants learned more about career pathways through a presentation by Jo Anne Honeycutt, Director, Career and Technical Education, N.C. Department of Public Instruction, and Bob H. Witchger, Ed.D., Director, Career and Technical Education, N.C. Community College System; toured local businesses (Coty, Sanford Contractors, and Arauco) and the Central Carolina Community College Lee Main Campus; and learned about CFUs. During the tours, participants were able to speak with industry leaders and with instructors in CCCC's Electronics Engineering Technology, Health & Fitness Science, Industrial Systems, Automotive Systems, and Motorcycle Mechanics programs. All of this helped to educate the CFU process and allowed for collaboration and idea generation among the teachers and industry officials.

After the information sessions and tours, the teachers experienced a presentation by previous participant Meredith Galloway, who created a CFU to use in her classroom. Her CFU project was designed around the solar panel industry. She had students conduct research on solar panels, write business correspondence, and prepare presentations. Through her CFU, students were able to learn the various ways in which English, communication, and critical reading skills are utilized in modern industry. She went beyond grammar rules and classical literature to how English is seen in practical application. Finally, teachers were given an opportunity to begin working on their own CFU.

Details about Central Carolina Works and a free electronic newsletter it publishes monthly are available at www.cccc.edu/high-school/ccp. More information about Central Carolina Community College is available on its website at www.cccc.edu.