October 29, 2004
By Beverly A. Carroll - Staff Writer
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Educators and construction industry professionals from as far away as Alaska are in Chattanooga to study a model construction career academy at East Ridge High School.
'This workshop is for chapters of Associated General Contractors and educators who are interested in replicating what we are doing here,' said Ron Tanner, president of C&I Specialty Const. Co., a partner with East Ridge's construction academy. 'AGC supported starting this pilot program here a year ago with the hopes that it could be replicated across the country.'
More than 40 people, divided into three teams, spent Thursday listening to students and teachers and observing masonry, carpentry and electrical classes. The two-day workshop is sponsored by AGC of East Tennessee.
'This is exactly what should be done,' said Mary Gregory, with School to Career, a professional consortium that advises school districts in New Orleans. 'We saw the need seven years ago to have a curriculum integrated with careers and technology It's the only way for kids to see the relevance of from the college track, schools school to work.'
East Ridge's academy is one of several in Hamilton County's 17 high schools. Using an $8 million grant from Carnegie Corp. of New York, local high schools are developing the academies, small schools within schools, as part of a district-wide high school reform effort.
Career academies blend college preparatory academics with career-related courses. They replace traditional vocational education, which had a separate path to a high school diploma officials said.
East Ridge's academy got a quicker start because of the local construction industry's help, principal Cheri Dedmon said. This is the second year for the program.
Educators and construction professionals said students in the academy are better prepared to enter apprenticeships, universities or the work force.
'The masons' association is letting kids into the apprentice program three months after they graduate,' East Ridge masonry instructor Steve Price said. 'Used to they had to wait a whole year after graduation to get in.'
Chip Catlett, with Masonry Specialist Corp., said East Ridge senior Ryan Blaylock served as an intern this past summer.
'He came out the door running,' Mr. Catlett said. 'It would have taken a year to train someone off the street.'
Mr. Blaylock, 18, said he plans to go to college after graduating next May. Taking academy classes showed him the different phases of construction work, he said.
'I started off in electrical, but I found out I liked masonry after I took a class,' he said. 'I want to study construction management.'
E-mail Beverly A. Carroll at bcarroll@timesfreepress.com