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RCS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM PODCAST: Career and Technical Education Coordinator Tyra Pilgrim

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The latest episode of the award-winning RCS Podcast “Beyond the Classroom” features Career and Technical Education Coordinator Tyra Pilgrim discussing the district’s extensive CTE program, its benefits for students and how our program continues to gain recognition at the local, state and federal levels.

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this is James Evans on the communications coordinator for Rutherford County schools and I'm here today with Keith Ryan Cartwright our communication specialist and our guest today is Tyra Pilgrim who is our Career and Technical education coordinator Rutherford County Schools nice to have you here they Tyra I think that some people hear that and maybe think of shop you know kind of the old school way of doing that but it's so much more now so can you define porous what that is station is the it's the way that we take Siri what we learn in books what we learn in classrooms and we put it into practice so we ate at that application of what we learn and then being able to actually perform the skill and so we have that your Department of Education gives 16 different cluster areas that we focus on here in Rutherford County we have 15 of those 16 that we have at our schools and so it ranges or anything between marketing business agriculture Education and Training Automotive culinary cosmetology and the list goes on and on and so it is the Avenue that students have to finally learn the theory but they can also then perform the scale and do it actually getting that practical skill yes definitely am so you know in our atronix program they're able to study all the theory and why things should work and then they're able to go and actually work on the machines and fix the problems and find the solutions to whatever is wrong with it and so lots of three 3D printing lots of I'm stem is also under our current equitation programs and so we are able to really make sure that the kids understand something works and why it works not just that it works and so that is the difference that the main difference that I see with our Career and Technical education programs this is Keith Ryan Cartwright you're listening to the podcast beyond the classroom you know CTE is a wide spectrum of of Pathways where did you come from where was your entry access point when I was in the 9th grade I am from Marion Illinois and I was in a keyboarding class because I took piano lessons my whole life and so they said that you need to try keyboarding and so I took your boarding and my 9th grade teacher was Miss Eisenhower and she instilled in me the desire to see what all I can do with learning that skill I was very fast at typing I actually still a man helps me get my work done quicker and it just to see all the competitions that we were able to do the real life experiences it was her you know investment in me that it was that relationship because I had her all four years of my high school and it was that good made me love it so I went got my associate's degree at John A Logan Community College where I majored in business teacher education and then I came down to Nashville to the Frio Baptist Bible College now called what college and study business administration and then after I got that degree I worked in a bank for a little while but I still felt the calling that I wanted to be a teacher cuz I I just remembered how much of an impact that Miss never had on my life and I was like do that for others and so I went back got my master's degree in Business education and stop by first year at Laverne and then I transfer to Riverdale and talk 12 years at Riverdale and marketing and business so you're at that interesting intersection where in the in the past education was about we're preparing kids to go to college no we're not we're preparing kids for post-secondary success and that's where a big part of CTE comes in that kids don't necessarily have to go to college but if you're not going to go to college because many of them yes so I'm what we are finding was CTE is that it gives students options so there are many entry and exit points that they can have if they want to just go to high school and get an industry certification they can still be successful in the war Mark if they want to go to it like the technical college if they want to go to a 4-year when they want to go they can work alongside going to school so it doesn't have to be either or I know sometimes they think well I have to go to college and that's all I can do with what we're doing and CTE is were giving them the skills that they need to be able to to you know if you're going to Healthcare will start out with a CNA in high school or I want to be a doctor well that's great but you still need to know things that a CNA can now and so it's just that starting Foundation of what they can do and sometimes in our protect programs they find they don't want to do so it may be that you know I don't want to be a nurse I'm in this program of study but I don't like the sight of blood or you know I don't want to have to do the things that a nurse has to do and so it allows them to for free find out that they do not want to do the medical field and I feel like that's just as important sometimes as finding out what you want to do yeah I know we have some classes I and we talked about mechatronics and we talked about nursing but it's there's a ton of things that that students can do now can you give us some little bitty Snapples I'm through that will graduate with the ServSafe manager into four certification which really means that they can go into any restaurant and be successful because of the training that they've had in their culinary programs that we offer we have Education and Training like I said to where we are part of that growing our own to where we see that hey these kids really have a knack for being able to teach students let's go ahead and you know Foster that drive in that initiative in them to go pursue that career we have information technology our students are graduating high school with their CompTIA A+ Netflix security buzz you know these industry certifications that our industry partners are definitely involved with this because they know that if a kid has their talk to you A Plus certification they know what that means and so that student if they have that and there's a pile a resume sitting there they will go to the top and an industry has told us that that is the case repair shops at the students are running and there are there actually doing these repairs for basically cost or donations just to support that program so they can go after these certifications I mean it's amazing I was at one of the schools and they're like oh you got a broken phone bring it over here 50 bucks we can fix it for you I mean that's at least the going rate if not cheaper than what you could do if you get taken to a retail shop and it's getting our students some experience so I think that's pretty amazing you didn't mention there's Dentistry there's there's a animal science Sam going through them in my mind like I said marketing business we have Supply Chain management we have construction we have engineering we have architecture we have interior design we have and I'm going to wake somebody up not going to be really mad graphic arts we have technology production where the one of our schools we have the sound board and they have to like take it apart put it together they record songs for iTunes is going to these and like you said they get to apply those things like their Master English skills but actually do it for something in and it shows them what they can actually accomplish with those basic skills not get the intercept form they just couldn't get it will they were also in construction and so the construction teacher was teaching them about the pitch of a roof and so the kid was like wait a minute it's like the super hit the deepest a kiss that student it quick for him so well that then he was tutoring other students on how to do it and so it's it's taking the math is taking my English and putting it in a row for the students to see it and so to me that is so important because the rigor is there the you know I could we we have theirs academic standards in every one of our CTE courses so we have a career where they all have to find out there with me and there are aspects in it to where we are definitely working with our academic Partners on trying to make the students as successful as they can be a support we probably asking her since we were students at use this why am I learning this math lesson they're getting to see that Hands-On now and it's making that click happen or teaching them the things that we're doing if this is Keith again you listening to beyond the classroom you know when you talk about James had mentioned some of these class the dark fun it's because there's an enjoyment assume you enjoy what you do I believe James enjoys what he does for a living I know that being a storyteller cuz that's really I can't say that all I ever wanted to do but for the last 30 whatever years that's all I've ever done you know that's that's what this does that's what's CTE is about is finding that your passion point and figuring out through education how to turn it into a career I had a student that I overheard in the hallway when I was teaching at Riverdale and they said you need to take marketing we have so much fun we don't do anything and I was like what do you mean don't do anything we have so much fun in there and I'm like what and I start listing off all these things and she was like yeah we do but we're having fun so it's like you're not beating over the head with whatever but you are still learning issues is a marketing director at one of our local chain restaurants here in Murfreesboro and so I'm so proud of that that she was able to use what she started learning and High School in her career and so it's when those stories happen is when it's just like oh yes and it's and we should keep in contact with the kids thing about CTE is that it's relational relationship is it is the important thing for us because the kids are come to school they will come to school to see their CTE teacher and it's just a bonus that they get the math English science social studies the other classes that they have throughout the day but they want to learn how to fix the brakes on their car they want to learn how to make this whatever the guy can culinary and so we help with a graduation right we help with the ACT scores we help all those things because we are helping the students be at school. equation rate and I was going to bring it up what is the graduation rate for a CTE students at 98.9% and there's also you track post-secondary placements that's a pretty high number to right not the stopping point and our teachers are very clear and making sure that the students have to have some post-secondary something to wear high school is not it whether it's an industry certification or it's you know I guess that the one year to year for year how many years you want to go to school it is pushing to make sure they know they can do anything anything and we're here to support you and so our teachers are very interested and they make sure that the students that they have that they do the best that they can do and so it's my jar teachers R I will put them up against anybody in the world they are like you said they have the passion they know their content they know their specialty better than anyone and what's so wonderful for us is that they now are sharing it with a student and so that I think their love for their area is being spread throughout the students and so it's making it so much more meaningful you just talked about pushing and not stopping as a district Rutherford County Schools continues to push and we don't stop and and now and we have a director of schools in in bilaspur block who is a firm believer in pushing and not stopping when it comes to Career Technical education and one of those ways and an area is where we kept pushing is the new I love it the aviation program at at Siegel so we are very fortunate in Rutherford County to have a director schools and mr. Spurlock a school board central office staff for teachers you are very supportive of CTE and they see why it is so important for our students there are other districts that do not have that we have all of the players are Industry Council their Redford County Chamber of Commerce that works with so much that we have the people at the table to help us along cuz we can't do it on our own I can't do it by myself or teachers can't do it by myself it takes all of us and so this Aviation program wanted that we've needed that and so we have an awesome teacher that that just came to us and so he's already meeting with MTSU there's going to be a dual credit agreement to wear when the students go through the years in high school go to MTSU it's going to count and so it's just and it's that relationship again with the instructors at MTSU and the instructors at PetSmart or excuse me at Siegel and that open dialogue and so what is so important to me is that whatever agreement we make with whatever School weather tomorrow MTSU Nashville State whoever we tcat Murfreesboro whoever we make these connections with the teachers have to be in communication and that's the way it's going to work if it's there's a roadblock to where the you know secondary does not talk to post-secondary it will it will not work we all have to be there working together and I think that is why on the main reasons why we've been so successful and we're going to continue to push and we're going to continue to want get more out of our teachers so it will help our students and yes kids will come out of program ready to take the written test that you have to take him to get that certification in the in order to pursue getting your Private Pilot County the Private Pilot it's going to be the Drone system that goes in there there's all other aspects and in fact a great time for a program like that to be considering that the aviation industry as a whole has said over the next We Roll we're going to lose 75% of our Workforce so they have found is the MTSU actually help the state bright whenever they redid it there is that first class you can go either through the aviation you could go through the drum and so the teacher that we have tried that drunk Rick young and so because he has his pilot's license then he's able to teach that the kids can you know that we can do this because he has that pilot's license but what is going to show I know after I've spoken with him and things that he is going to make sure the kids learn first how to read a map how to read a map that has no technology there's no anything and that but if you're high in the sky and you somewhere and you have to drop this package for this place if you can map and your technology goes down you know it could be detrimental just the simple thing that we all probably learn how to wear your mapping some of these kids these days do not know that I will admit that I rely on my map app on my phone probably too much but it's just that the students are I get so excited because of the opportunities that they have and how blessed they are to be able to choose the different things that they can and I just it's exciting it's my passion it's my life I I just love it I love it because I know what it can do for our students and how it's changing families we had a story of the kid who was able to we wrote a grant to get money for industry certifications cuz they cost a lot and the student was able to we were able to pay for his industry certification and he was like the oldest of like 6 kids and they he was already working like a a job at a local fast food place which is fine establishment he needed to make more money for the family and so whenever he got this industry certification he was weeping when he went back and told the teacher I can this changes my whole family's world because I can make. what I was making and it be for my family and so those kind of stories are just to hurt though because you know that it's true leaves changing lives and that's what it's made of the changes that family tree James Evans again on you listening to be on the classroom the podcast from Rutherford County Schools you mention something you and keeping something to go that know the 18 the aviation industry has already let it be known to have an aging Workforce and it's going to be the need for new young child to be coming in the next that Industries is vital to the Chamber of Commerce called Rutherford Works we've gotten shoutouts it from the governor to the you guys were in DC last year to meet with some of the president's Administration about this tell us a little bit about what that is how your Bridging the school district higher ed and Workforce to meet those needs Rutherford County and Beyond we had Harvard Business School come in and they didn't ask that shopping on our area about our needs for the next 10 years and they found that our top five areas or Supply Chain management information technology educate like healthcare an advanced manufacturing and so those are high five areas that we work with the chamber and so what they found is that exactly like the aviation industry their workers their Workforce are retiring and they have got to have help and so what we have done is that means that these industry partners that we have they are here supporting us as well and so that means they're writing letters of reference for Grant that way right they are helping us to win awards for the tsba Tennessee School Board Association we won Award of Excellence for them for a mechatronics program we want Advanced CTE National through that's why I was one reason why we were in Washington was to accept that award and so we are working and it's not like you know everyone in the company is important but we're working with not only the front line people working with the presidents in the CEOs and the people the real decision-makers at some of these businesses that I can take a chance on your kids but they're finding is that our students are competitive and they are hard workers I know a lot of time kids gets a bad rap. Go there not good for anything but they really are and so what's happening is of these industry partner that they're doing that their full-time people are doing and like it's so it's it's been really an eye-opening thing for industry to take a chance on some of these kids in these programs and so whenever and we tell the kids when you go out you are not representing yourself you're representing your school or School District your family you know and so you know we're really trying to make sure that the kids understand about the opportunities that they're getting and you know the I know we had one employee fired someone because I didn't want to be like if it didn't work out you know everyone's asking only been here for 6 months and I want like 10 more of him because he's so good and this is a perfect opportunity for you to plug something that worked for distinction out of diploma that we're doing to talk a little bit about that so that we're trying to get the word out about that parents students so they understand what that means and if we found out that one of the major things that the employers need in their Workforce for people that have soft skills and a soft skills can be called character traits that can be called many different but it's showing up on time it's putting your cell phone down it you know all of the things that we just take for granted that we were up now and so they are half as part of what we do we those in years they they are just so excited to see that these students are coming out better prepared than they ever have been and so instilling the soft skills at and buy you know focusing on some of those things it has really made them become a more viable employee and so the employers are willing to take chances on them because they're saying that you know that it really is okay and these kids really are doing a good job and so it's meeting their need especially for the people that they're having it so they work with the teachers and they SDI you know we work with the state department I say we've talked to the state department everyday because of things that in the Cricket on that we might need to change your Tweet or add to or and the state department is very open to listening to what we have to say and our needs and so and then we can go to Industry I feel like I could call any of our industry partners and say hey can you help us do whatever and I'm not asking for money it's time it's just speaking it's all these things and so is party work ethic distinction what we're trying to do for our senior class is they you know they have the opportunity to there are 40 points that they could get doing different things like 30 service I'm taking your act I'm taking a post-secondary something like an industry certification or dual enrollment dual credit class absenteeism that is a good thing that they can if they have one send so many absences they get points because people have to show up to work for that they need to keep it you know as high as they so if they do all those things what are able to get a if there is a position open at the company they are guaranteed an interview so it's not guaranteed job but is guaranteeing them an interview so we have over 6 Employers in our Rutherford County that have said hey we will we want to partner with you our goal is to get a hundred so we need more business partners as well to work with our students because the students will get a seal on there the provided by the Redford works and they will get a cord that is the Rutherford Works green and is the cord that they can wear graduation and they are and it's something to be very proud of because and they the employers you know have the list of names to where they feel like okay they can double checked if a student says received the work of Extinction and then so what that does is that guarantees them and so that puts them to the top of the stack and so it you know is just another way for students to be successful what is this mean when they explain that just makes more marketable in personal question and soda back into that but bring into everything we talked about you're originally from Marion Illinois my first connection to that is one of my favorite movies of all times the oscar-nominated Falcon and the snowman Timothy Hutton was nominated for an Oscar who played the role of Marion comes in there there's the penitentiary character in his life sentence with no parole in Marion Illinois Illinois so marionette the topic similar between Marion and here in Murfreesboro because and we have many different schools in our County and Marion only has one high school and I have about a r 1200 students at believe but it still feels like that Hometown homie feel that I do still feel here in Rutherford County in your different Zone high schools because they still have that you know they're still pranks that happen there are still some of those things that I remember from when I was at Marion they have that here and so I think that that is you know there's rivalries there's everything you know that we have and just you know knowing that were very large is great but knowing that we have the pockets around town really focusing on the Blackman area the seagull I mean it is very evident that there are pride in their schools and tried to be from wherever you are Rutherford County and in its Community it's an environment thing to where you at you want to be a part of that and so that's what I felt in Marion and I feel it here too and when you're involved in the community people who you are and with that Jane there is always one question we ask but you already kind of answered that we always ask who was your most influential teacher tells her name again and just in case she hears this cuz this is now on a war winning podcast what's something you would like to tell her about the influence she's had on you and your career interest in me and how she was very caring and she she loved us and we knew that but she also held us to high standards and she made us do the best that we could and so that to me was the most you know rewarding thing for me was knowing that she cared knowing that no matter what she had her back and so that was a nice till you know I've reached out to her a few times and she was actually the CTE director for Marion school system when I got this job CT director coordinator I said Hey do you remember thank you for everything you did for me because she just shared her heart always ask for for teachers this make sure you can't scare know that you I got them at home in the high standards and if you can balance those two things you end up having a lot of impact self and everyone is listening this is the other County Schools beyond the classroom podcast tell your friends were trying to get our listenership up we had to launch this project last spring and we're having good feedback but I we just want people to learn more about the people behind the programs of Rutherford County school so thanks for joining us today

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RCS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM PODCAST: Career and Technical Education Coordinator Tyra Pilgrim

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