WORK BASED LEARNING
CARLA PITTS
Work Based Learning Specialist
I am married with three children, two girls and a boy. I have 2 grandchildren who are the center of my life, one in college and the other in middle school. We all keep so busy and we are always running around doing something. I am a California native and moved here 30 years ago for a calmer life and a great place for my children to grow up.
This is my 21st year of working for MTC. The first five years I worked downtown at the State Building and was contracted out to DHS working and teaching classes in the TANF program. I have great memories there and still see clients from that time and they always remember and want to talk about their time with myself and my late sister-in-law who worked alongside me. I have spent the last seventeen years here at Tongue Point. I spent my first 10 years at TPJCC as a Career Transition Specialist and the last seven years as the WBL Specialist for all trades. Now I just have Seamanship, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting and Computer Service Tech.
Before Job Corps I worked for two different school districts, was a medical transcriptionist, dental assistant and worked for the Department of Agriculture in California. It's been a busy life.
Melissa padgett
Work Based Learning Specialist
I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 44 years. I have four grown children (three sons and one daughter) plus a bonus son. I currently have eight grandsons and one granddaughter. I was an Army brat and growing up we lived all over. I have spent most of my adult life in Astoria other than 12 years in Texas. My family is my motivation and my reason.
Before Job Corps I worked in law offices for over twenty-five years. After the law office I worked at closed, I wanted to make a change in career. After working with youth in the 4-H program as a volunteer, I decided I wanted to work with young people. I love working with and mentoring young adults and helping them do what’s necessary to improve their circumstances in life and learn to provide for themselves in a positive manner.
I started working at TPJCC in August 2017 as the Administrative Assistant for the Career Technical Training Department. I have also worked as the Office Administration Instructor. Now I am the Business Community Liaison and the Work Based Learning Specialist for the hard trades: Building Construction Tech, Carpentry, Cement Mason, Electrical, Glazing, Painting, Plastering and Welding.
WORK BASED LEARNING INTERNSHIP PARTNERS
We are very thankful for our WBL internship partners and how they mentor our students, helping them learn good work ethics, job skills, technical skills and the soft skills that help them be successful in their careers. Without you we would not be able to succeed. Some of our WBL partners are:
Alaska Marine Highway
Allen Marine
Arrow Dental Bellevue Family Dentistry
Bergeman Construction
Bergerson Tile & Stone
Brusco Tug and Barge
Call of the Sea
Camp Rilea
City of Astoria
Clatsop County Fairgrounds & Expo Center
Coast Diesel
Columbia Memorial Hospital
Columbia Steel & Welding Supply
Crowley
DAMB Screens & Glass
DK Window Works
Evansville Marine Services
Foss Maritime
George Construction
JBT Lektro
Manson Construction
Morris Glass & Construction
NW Urgent Care
Pacific Whale Foundation
Padgett Building & Remodeling
Precision Coast Painting
Providence Seaside Hospital
RDA Project Management
Saddle Mountain / Columbia River Bar Pilots
Salvage Chief
Sause Bros
Sopko Welding
USACE
USCG Sector Columbia River
USCG Tongue Point
WCT Marine & Construction
Job_Corps-work_based_learning_brochure1.pdfemployer packet 01 23.pdfThe Basics of Work Based Learning Brochure
Employer Work Based Learning Contract Packet
JOB CORPS’ WORK BASED LEARNING PROGRAM BENEFITS EMPLOYERS, STUDENTS,
THE COMMUNITY AND TPJCC.
EMPLOYER WBL BENEFITS
1. Gives local employers input to improve training
2. Builds a pool of skilled workers
3. Teaches soft skills so employers don’t have to
4. Lowers recruitment costs for employers
5. Can reduce training/recruiting costs
6. Saves money recruiting from external sources
7. Less turnover
8. Provides a higher productivity from well trained workforce
9. Fosters involvement in the trade curriculum
10. Improves employee retention
11. Provides pool of potential employees
12. Provides a community service
13. Establishes a connection between industry professionals and education providers
14. Develops a good relationship between worksite mentors and students
15. Provides potential skilled and motivated employees
16. Fresh ideas from energized enthusiastic students
17. High retention rates
18. Test drive the talent & audition potential applicants
19. Enhance prospective
20. Low cost labor
21. Closes the skills gap
STUDENT WBL BENEFITS
1. Connects classroom learning to the real world
2. Gives students opportunities to practice skills in real-world scenarios
3. Helps students develop soft skills
4. Gives students a chance to observe professionals in action
5. Helps student network with potential employers
6. Helps students hone their technical and critical thinking skills
7. Helps students develop crucial career readiness skills like professionalism, teamwork, communication & initiative
8. Increases employment changes
9. Increases earning levels
10. Increases work satisfaction
11. Less likely to drop out of their vocational training
12. Develops flexibility and mobility
13. Develops the likeliness of lifelong learning, advance trainings and upgrading of skills throughout life
14. The focus is on hands on skills needed for the trade
15. Prepares student for job search
16. Gain practical job experience
17. Enter workforce faster
18. Learn in a smaller environment and connect with mentor
19. Realize the relevance of their education and how to apply knowledge in meaningful way
20. Increased self confidence
21. Acquire real workplace experience and employability skills
22. Provides a real-world learning environment to develop abilities
23. Develop an understanding of employment opportunities and responsibilities
24. Development of positive attitudes and work habits
25. Development marketable skills
26. Opportunity to apply classroom learning to actual trade work
27. Provides real life interaction with other employees and the human factor in employment
28. Creates opportunity for career exploration within a trade
29. Learn industry skills that align with real workforce needs
30. Students get equipped with more than just trade skills (soft skills)
31. Understand that education and skills needed to secure jobs and be successful employee
32. Enhances resume
33. Gain understanding of workplace norms
COMMUNITY WBL BENEFITS
1. Saved expenses for social benefits such as unemployment
2. Increases in tax income from higher earnings
3. Externalities from productivity gained due to better education
4. Creates an environment of collaboration and cooperation
5. Builds confidence in TPJCC and the community as results are observable
6. Encourages respect and tolerance between different groups
7. Provides an effective way of helping students become productive citizens in the community
8. Increases the economics health of the region as students help employers meet the need for skilled workers
TPJCC WBL BENEFITS
1. Brings employers and TPJCC together in a training effort to develop a strong trade program
2. Enhances the ability to meet the needs of a diverse student population
3. Makes education and training more relevant and valuable to students
4. Promotes TPJCC/instructor interaction with the business community
5. Increases relevant trade-based learning by clarifying career goals and practicable means of reaching them
6. Bridges the gap between trade training and the work world
Work Force Council Assessment Form
The assessment form that you fill out will greatly aid us in keeping our training programs relevant for your industries. Please take a few more minutes of your time at the end of today's meeting to complete this form.
Hover over the image to the left and then click the upper left corner in the box with the arrow in it, the form will open in a new tab. When you are done with the form just click the submit button.
