A jump on the future
Students from the Fort Zumwalt School District are getting a leg up on tomorrow today. The district’s unique Apprenticeship Program was recognized as a Program of Distinction by the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation of America.
The award, given to Dr. Patrick Brown and Andy McHaffie, recognizes the program for, “fidelity to the modern registered apprenticeship model and excelling in high-quality, industry-relevant instruction, on-the-job training, apprentice mentoring and employer partnership.” It was awarded at an event presenting the United States Department of Labor Certified Youth program to more than 50 business representatives, as well as elected officials, state and local Chamber of Commerce leaders and representatives from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
McHaffie is a teacher at Zumwalt East High and curriculum coordinator for Industrial Technology and Engineering. Brown is the Zumwalt School District’s Executive Director of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) and Career Technical Education (CTE). The pair launched the program in 2019 with partner Merric Millwork and Seating. It has grown steadily over the past four years, despite early hurdles created by the pandemic. The program started with four apprentices, in 2022, the number grew to 20.
“We have always tried to find a way to bridge the gap from education to going into the labor force,” McHaffie said. “The benefit of the program is amazing. It’s an experience you cannot get at school. Real world experience.” The program isn’t just come one, come all. Students that are interested in applying for the apprenticeship program need to enroll and complete one of the many CTE Apprenticeship Courses offered, which include industrial tech, business, family and consumer science, and many others. Once they have completed the course, they can fill out the application including two instructor recommendations. Applicants will then be asked to interview at a manufacturing partner for the apprenticeship position they have selected. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the CTE Apprenticeship Course-work and complete at least 180 classroom hours of workbased learning which is aligned with the CTE Apprenticeship Curriculum. They must also maintain at least a 90% attendance record overall for grades 9-12 and maintain at least a 95% on-time record (four tardies or less per semester).
“We don’t want to send someone and they leave a bad taste in their mouth,” McHaffie said. “We also incorporate some of the soft skills. The students have to dress and present themselves for the interview portion, for example.” Current partners include Merric Millwork and Seating, Quest Specialty Products, National Cart Co., Patterson Mold and Tool, Fixture Concepts, Seyer Industries and Avmats. So far, it has been a win-win.
The partnership provides local manufacturers with highly skilled workers whose school attendance is a proven track record of commitment to the workplace. It provides students with paid, on-the-job training, the chance to earn high school credit while learning and earning on the job, 45 hours of college credit toward a Skilled Trades A.A.S., through St. Charles Community College and a nationally recognized USDOL certificate. Looking into the future, McHaffie could see the program expanding. “I think we could be at 80 students someday, easily,” he said. “Also, I would love to expand into IT (information technology) and healthcare.
