Judd Pittman is director of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Office of Career Training and Education.
He's been touring the Crawford Technology Center in Meadville to learn what's working well here and how the state can support the center's mission, and he's pleased with what he sees there.
“The excitement, the student learning, the teacher enthusiasm, the positive atmosphere and ultimately the foundation of the Northwest economy — this is the place where it happens,” Pittman said.
The good news is there is interest in skilled trades: Here at the Crawford County Career and Technical Center, we received 400 applications for 200 openings.
They train high school students for a variety of careers ranging from precision machining, welding and construction to automotive technology and medical careers.
Many of these students have jobs lined up after graduation, but the problem is that there aren't enough physical and financial resources to meet the demand.
“We need more funding. We don't have the space right now. Crawford Tech is nearly full, as are most of the surrounding career tech centers,” said Career Tech Director Kevin Sprong.
“The problem that we have, and the problem that we're trying to solve together, is opening up more spaces so that kids can achieve their dreams first, and achieve their dreams at their first choice. If they want to get into a welding program and they're not on a waiting list or they don't have to choose a second program, they really can,” Pittman said.
“The community can always help with the funding needed to undertake a project like this, so we're working with him to see what the Ministry of Education and other ministries can do to make that happen in the future,” Sprong said.
Solving this puzzle will enable students to get the training they want and enjoy the careers that await them with companies looking to hire the next generation of skilled workers.
