Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Copper Country Career and Technical Education Director Shawn Kolbus is entertaining the head of the State of Michigan’s Department of Education – Office of Career and Technical Education Wednesday. Dr. Brian Pyles began his day at the monthly Keweenaw Alliance breakfast held at The Bonfire in Houghton. Pyles’ visit comes one day after State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice met students in various districts.
Pyles says this is his first visit to the area in his current capacity, and one he has been excited to make. The Copper Country Intermediate School District has a strong program.
Talking to business owners, Pyles encouraged them to get kids interested in manufacturing and the trades as early as elementary school. He recommended guest speakers and workplace tours that were welcoming and interactive. Pyles says there is a significant gap in graduation rates in favor of students who take part in career and technical education courses.
Lastly, Pyles stressed that work based learning is another vital component to help kids find a career. He used the example of health science. Some people will struggle as nurses seeing blood, especially in a surgery setting. Pyles joked to the crowd that one center even had a partnership with the local medical examiner to sit in on autopsies. He said age 16 is a better time to find out if that’s for you then later in life after you’ve already spent money on a degree.
