a difference in the lives of a specific student. Other times, it’s supporting our community and growing the local economy through these mutually beneficial partnerships.” Local employers are buying in - last year, 15 of them visited the Aurora campus to connect with students on Table Tuesdays, a weekly event that encouraged networking. One program that PTC offers stands out as a good example of this kind of partnership. In 2022, Pickens transitioned their ECE program to A2T, or Apprenticeship 2 Teaching, to appeal to students who might want to work with older kids after completing their certifications. The impact of this A2T program on Pickens’ partnership with not only the APS School District, but the community as a whole has been incredible. Marcela Garcia, Principal at Aurora Hills Middle School speaks to this community impact saying, “Right now, there’s a shortage of teachers. The pool is not only shallow, it is almost a desert.”
The result of this collaboration is a student-to- teacher pipeline, allowing students to get hired on as paraprofessionals in local schools and offering them a chance to get hands-on job training in a real-world setting while filling critical industry gaps. Pickens partners with employers in the community in a variety of fields to help offer internships and apprenticeships like this to their students. Some programs have internships built into their curriculum, ensuring that a good portion of their students gain workplace experience before graduating. Real-World Experience Through Student Organizations Student-run organizations that operate out of the Pickens Tech campus like the Design Lab and Salon offer students the chance to work with real-life clients and actual budgets under the guidance of their instructor.
Image: Adobe
16 The Acumen
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