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From Jefferson State Community College

Eighty-eight high school students at LeCroy Career Technical Center in Clanton have learned valuable workforce skills this spring through Jefferson State’s Skills for Success programs.

Since Feb. 22, nine Skid Steer training classes have been completed at the center, with 65 total completers. Also, a Fiber Optics class recently finished with 23 additional students.

The offerings emphasize the college’s commitment to providing in-demand training—and the growing results of those efforts.

“This is a great opportunity for high school students in our area because it provides them free training opportunities with hands-on skill practice that they can apply in workforce settings as soon as they graduate, while also fulfilling one of the high school graduation requirements for college and career readiness,” said Britney McClung, coordinator of career programs for Jefferson State’s Center for Workforce Education.

JSCC since 2023 has partnered with various school systems and other organizations for Skills for Success programs, including Shelby County Schools’ Career Technical Educational Center, Calera High School, Thompson High School, Pinson Valley High School, Jemison High School, Montevallo High School, Oak Mountain High School, Shelby County High School, and an upcoming class with Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

Different programs have been offered, including skid steer training, excavator training, and food and beverage training.

Students must complete an online theory portion of the course before they are eligible for the skills training labs.

Skills labs held onsite at LeCroy have been taught by Center for Workforce Education instructor Alan Smith, and instructor Josh Byars is teaching the Fiber Optics class.

“We had a great experience with the Skills for Success Skid Steer course—it was well organized and the instructor was very knowledgeable,” Chilton County Schools Career Tech Supervisor Dr. Shannon Walker said. “Some of the students were nervous at first but by the end were having a blast. As a school, we are always interested in helping students gain valuable certifications which will help them in the future, whether it be for a job or a much-needed life skill. It is always exciting to see students who believe they cannot do something master a skill and go on to utilize the skill and teach others.”

Contact the Workforce Education department at workforcedev@jeffersonstate.edu or (205) 856-7710 to learn more, or visit www.jeffersonstate.edu/fasttrack.

Skills for Success is the Alabama Community College System’s rapid workforce training program launched in 2022. It was developed in partnership with the state’s businesses and industries so the training is aligned with the skills employers say workers need to fill available jobs.

Skills for Success training is offered at no cost to participants. The Innovation Center is a division of the Alabama Community College System that brings together the state’s community colleges, business and industry, and community partners to deliver Skills for Success training.