Students Tout Work-Based Learning to Visiting Governors

CONCORD, NH - Representatives from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices paid a visit to New Hampshire this week to learn more about work-based learning programs.

According to a N.H. Dept. of Education release, the visit and the work by officials are part of a multi-year effort aimed at assisting high school students and adult job seekers to attain careers in STEM-intensive industries (science, technology, engineering, and math) such as advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology, energy, and other business sectors.

New Hampshire is one of six states participating in the program.

The second phase of the Center for Best Practices initiative is for the states to scale and market their work-based learning opportunities to the general public.

J. Mike Bartlett and John Guerriero, both policy analysts with the Economic Opportunity Division of the NGA, met with NH DOE Commissioner Frank Edelblut, Deputy Commissioner Christine Brennan, and others at NHTI, Concord’s Community College, on Tuesday to learn about the state’s efforts, so far, and collaborate on reporting information required in the second phase.

Steve Rothenberg, an assistant principal at Concord High School and the director of the Concord Regional Technical Center, also participated in the meeting and later in the day, gave officials a tour of the CRTC so they could learn about the extensive programming at the center – one of the largest in the Granite State, serving students from nine high schools.

Local students held a roundtable with officials to talk about their future plans and how work-based initiatives already in place were helping them make career and college decisions in teacher prep, nursing, automotive, graphic arts, construction and trades, and other sectors.

“The program allows for student input and guidance from professionals in the field of study that helped them build their own career pathways,” Brennan said. “CRTC gave students the opportunity to access resources and experiences that might not be afforded to them in a different school setting. Listening to the students enthusiastically share their journey toward a bright future was impressive.”

Later in the day, the group visited Lakes Region Community College in Laconia to examine all the offerings inside the Community College System of New Hampshire.

“NGA has been thrilled to work with New Hampshire,” Bartlett noted after the visits, “and to support the state’s cutting-edge efforts to connect youth to in-demand career pathways.”

Courtesy Photo / NH DOE - At a roundtable, students shared their experiences with work-based learning programs at Concord High School’s Concord Regional Technical Center and how the experience was helping them make future career and education decisions. Officials pictured from left to right include NH DOE Deputy Commissioner Christine Brennan, Dr. Brian Bicknell, the vice president of Academic Affairs at Manchester Community College, John Guerriero, a policy analyst with the Economic Opportunity Division of the National Governors Association, and J. Mike Bartlett, a senior policy analyst with the NGA.