For Immediate Release – December 15, 2008

Contact:  Delia A. Taylor, APR, 225-931-0286 or taylormedia@bellsouth.net, or Alice Sibley, career and technical education coordinator, 225-686-7044 or alice.sibley@lpsb.org.

High School Students Discover Career Options

Approximately 225 students from all the high schools in Livingston Parish recently spent a day with teachers and counselors at the Associated Builders and Contractor’s office on Highland Road in Baton Rouge.  There, they learned about workforce training, local and state workforce needs and career opportunities in the building and trade industries.

Following a welcome from Brent Boe’, chairman of ABC’s Board of Directors and Performance Contractors, and a video presentation on the importance of building a career, the students and their teachers, counselors and guests were given a tour of seven craft stations at the facility. 

At each station, the students were introduced to the basic elements of coursework required for developing the skills and/or certification for   welding, millwright, pipefitting, heavy equipment operations, electrical, instrumentation and carpentry.

“Our students heard from professionals who work in each of the seven career areas on current workforce expectations, available training opportunities, starting salary opportunities and other information.  About 25 industry partners in all participated in the event, giving our students a first-hand perspective on what they can expect in today’s workforce,” said Alice Sibley, career and technical education coordinator.

Sibley said many students can enroll in some post-secondary classes before they graduate, giving them a jump-start on their careers.

Sibley said she is working with area schools to introduce students to a variety of career options, and she plans to offer more field trip opportunities in the future.  She noted that high school students can now better “design” their curriculum to meet their career expectations.

Associated Business Contractors’ instructor Richard Sanders of Industrial/Davis Electrical spoke to students about the basic coursework requirements needed to become a licensed electrician.

Associated Business Contractors’ instructor Jake Borne of Performance Contractors, spoke to students about the educational background needed to become a licensed pipe fitter.  He told students that they could earn good wages and enjoy a high level of job satisfaction in this work fields.