More than 35 educators from Sullivan County Schools were paired with 24 industries on Friday, October 27 to learn the educational requirements for job positions in our community. This program has been in place for 26 years in Bristol and expanded to Sullivan County Schools last year.
The all-day event began with breakfast at King University. After a brief program, teachers were paired with a local industry and spent the day with leaders touring their facility, discussing career opportunities and, ultimately, learning what skills are needed to work at that company.
“BTES hosts this event for our industry and education partners to foster conversations and create an environment that cultivates more jobs, opportunities, and investments in our community,” said BTES CEO Clayton Dowell. “Industries and educational entities are an essential part of the vitality of our region.”
The goal of the day is to help students become more prepared to enter the workforce in the local area.
“We are excited about the opportunity for our educators to participate in Teacher Industry Day,” said Chuck Carter, Director of Sullivan County Schools. “Building awareness about businesses and industries in our community allows our teachers to share information with their students about the application of skills and knowledge that they are gaining in our classrooms. Fortifying our partnerships is a win-win situation for our students and serves as a building block for more Work-Based Learning opportunities such as internships, pre-apprenticeships, and other future career options.”
BTES and the Tennessee Valley Authority have sponsored the day since its inception.
“Teacher Industry Day is one of the shining examples that supports our brand of ‘Where Tennessee Begins Its Business Day,’ just as being on the forefront of public utilities providing the fastest broadband service available, development of shovel-ready industrial sites, and unparalleled reliability through its Automated Switching System,” NETWORKS Sullivan Partnership CEO Clay Walker said. “Workforce development and existing industry services have been two areas where BTES has led our region and Teacher Industry Day marries those two focuses in a meaningful, measurable way. They continue to broaden their own program beyond their service area and mentor other communities that want to start a similar program, making them not only a great partner of NETWORKS, but a valuable member of Team Tennessee as well.”
Participating industries included Bell Helicopter, Bristol TN Police Department, Bristol TN Fire Department, BTES, City of Bristol TN, Bristol Metals, Economy Beauty, H. Johnson Pharmacy, HSN, Integrated Health, JA Street, Kintronics Laboratory, Mattern & Craig, Meadowview Conference Center, Metz Culinary Management, Microporous, Royal Building Products, Seaman Corporation, Teleperformance, The Robinette Company, Tri City Extrusion, Turtleson, USAntibiotics, and Wallace Collision Center.
Carter continued, “We want to thank BTES, King College, and all of the other cooperating entities that have made this day possible. I encourage all local businesses and industries, regardless of size, to get involved in this program. Sullivan County Schools is proud to be part of the answer to the development of the workforce of tomorrow.”
