Thomas County Central High School Work-Based Learning program has expanded its potential student job options with a new partnership this year.

The program and the school’s Broadcasting department have joined forces to provide students in this pathway a chance to take part in the experience.

At TCCHS, WBL students are taking skills learned in their Career, Technical, and Education (CTAE) classroom in the Audio-Video Technology and Film pathway and applying them to the work force. Students gain experience in a career they may be interested in, or simply get a taste of what a real job is like.

“It’s beneficial because we get real world experience in an environment that is friendly and easy to get around,” senior apprentice Garrett Whitfield, who works at Hand-In-Hand Primary School, said of his WBL apprenticeship.

To be involved, there are certain requirements a student must possess: good attendance, a good discipline record, and good grades. Students also had to pass interviews by school administrators and be approved by their instructor. 

Junior apprentice Faith Miller, who works at Cross Creek Elementary, said she was “really excited” to learn she was selected for one of the apprentice positions, especially given this is her program’s first year of involvement in WBL.

The schools receiving their services are Hand-In-Hand Primary, Garrison-Pilcher Elementary, Cross Creek Elementary, and Thomas County Middle schools. Each school has one broadcasting student assigned to it. Their job is to make a video once a week to go on their school’s website about what is going on within that school, which helps inform parents and the community about what students are being taught.

These apprentices have to be able to prove they can work independently and are skilled enough to produce a product the schools need. The students normally will work two class periods a day.

“I am hoping this will help raise awareness of what’s going on in the schools and also will be a good experience for students since this is what most of them want to pursue in college,” TCCHS Broadcasting teacher Randy Young said.

All of the students working have been very pleased with what they’ve done this year. They have been learning time management and other valuable work skills while continuing to expand their abilities within their selected pathway.

“I’m glad to be a part of the program, since it gives me real life experience in the field, a chance to meet new people and be able to work with others,” junior apprentice Hayes Nelson, who works at TCMS, said.

Garrison-Pilcher Elementary apprentice Ashley Smith, a senior, said the WBL program and her responsibilities have had a good influence on her.

“It has influenced me by encouraging me to making better choices and setting good examples for the younger kids,” she said. “Being able to do this has helped me to get a better view of the field I want to go into and makes me more confident.”