Work-Based Learning Champions in New Hampshire

Officials have been working to promote and expand work-based learning, extended learning, and apprenticeship opportunities for students in both high school and college in New Hampshire. Educators are creating templates and rubrics that will be available to districts to develop and implement effective programs for students. 21 New Hampshire residents received Work-Based Learning Awards at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Teachers, educators, and counselors working together, with businesses, to get students access to learning opportunities outside of the classroom. And two elected officials who have been long-time supporters of students involved in career and technical education.

Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire Department of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, Jeremy Hitchcock of the Community College System of NH’s Board of Trustees, and Peter McNamara, the president of the New Hampshire Automotive Dealers Association, all spoke about the importance of work-based learning and congratulated the winners. The awards capped off the second phase of a National Governors Association Center for Best Practices initiative to scale and market work-based learning opportunities to the general public in six states, including New Hampshire.

New Hampshire is at the forefront of bringing stakeholders together to match future opportunities with the workforce needs of employers,” Sununu said. “These work-based learning champions – educators, advisors, and industry leaders – are getting the job done for our students.”

Edelblut agreed.“Today we saw how stakeholders from the education and business sectors, from all across the state, are working together to ensure opportunities for our students,” he said.

Officials have been working to promote and expand work-based learning, extended learning, and apprenticeship opportunities for students in both high school and college in the Granite State. Educators are creating templates and rubrics that will be available to districts to develop and implement effective programs for students.

Winners were nominated by dedicated members and mentors involved in work-based learning, extended learning opportunities, and apprenticeships around the state.

Student Champions

Ian Crawn, Concord High School

Peter McCosker, Hinsdale High School

Carmela Souza, Salem High School

Ryan Thomas, Manchester Community College

Advisor/Coordinator Champions

Mike Curtis, director of the Future’s Program at White Mountain High School in Whitefield

Ken Martin, a CTE manufacturing technology teacher and ELO coordinator at Laconia High School.

Rich Paiva, director of technical studies at Milford High School.

Teacher/Faculty Champions

Jayne Barnes, a professor and department chair at Nashua Community College

Scott Pope, CTE machine tool and engineering teacher at Sugar River Valley CTE Center in Claremont

Kerrie Alley Violette, an ELO teacher at Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston

Industry Partner Champions

Mike Alberts, director of organizational development and New England Electric Wire Inc. in Lisbon

Tom Ives, the owner of New Hampshire Bindery in Bow

Tim Jordan, a service manager at AutoFair Ford in Manchester

Vic Kissell, senior manufacturing supervisor, and Maxcess International in Keene

Eileen Keefe, chief nursing officer, and Parkland Medical Center in Derry.

Kurt Simione, owner of Technology Seed Inc. in Salem.