Local educators learn skills students need for the workforce

SANDUSKY – A group of 22 local educators recently spent time learning about skills needed in the workforce, so they can teach their students what they need to be successful in it.

In the Teacher Business Boot Camp, which is organized by the The Erie County Business Advisory Council, invited the educators from eight local school districts to tour six Erie County companies.

The tours took place at Cedar Point, Firelands Health, Bettcher Industries, U.S. Tsubaki, Humanetics and Freudenberg-NOK.

“I left each employer with excitement and specific students in mind that could be successful in the different roles we were able to hear and learn about. I am envisioning how career connections and awareness could be shared in a cross-curricular platform,” said Huron City School’s Mary James. “The real takeaways were the skills that are important to each position. The common themes associated with the soft skills were validating to what teachers are seeking in the classrooms.”

After the tours, each educator created a culminating project to summarize their experience and explain how it will help impact their experiences with students in their classrooms.

More than 2,500 students across the region this year will be impacted by the event, which takes place annually.

“Teachers are on the front lines when it comes to retaining talent in our region”, said Firelands Forward Director David White, “Understanding the current landscape of regional career opportunities arms them with additional tools to add into their curriculum.

The educators also received three graduate credits from Ashland University. Funding for the credits came from the Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted’s Office of Workforce Transformation.