Overton Schools To Use Invest Grant Funding Into Career Exploration

Overton County Schools hoping to build a CTE lab at Livingston Academy using the recently awarded Innovative Schools Model Grant from the state.

Federal Programs Director Lesley Riddle said a portion of the $3.2 million will be spent to create a lab for various CTE classes to use and to serve as a testing site or meeting center. She said the school system’s focus with the funding is to invest in career exploration for students.

“Try to see what we can do with that money to make high school and middle school look different for those students,” Riddle said. “So we’re looking at accelerating some learning, maybe possible taking classes earlier so they can get more postsecondary opportunities while they’re still in high school.”

Riddle said the school system also wants to help improve career readiness. She said one of the school system’s goals is to increase the number of students who graduate both with a high school degree and a TCAT degree.

Riddle said they also have a career readiness opportunity in the works specifically for special ed students. She said they are looking a building a PAES lab that mimics real-world workplaces and helps students with various disabilities master skills to help enter the workforce upon graduation.

“There are many more things we’re hoping to do and maybe compensate teachers who are willing to step out there and teach that extra class so students can accelerate their learning or have that extra summer school session to get kids some extra credit to be ready for that post-secondary,” Riddle said. “So there are a lot of exciting things that we can do that many people “