TOP PHOTO: Community members and local business owners toured CCHS’S building and trades classroom on Tuesday as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s Lunch and Learn event.

By Charlotte Underwood 

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Chamber of Commerce held its Lunch and Learn at the Campbell County High School with a tour of the school’s Career and Technical Education wing the focus of the program. Lunch was sponsored by TN Gearup and prepared by the high school’s Culinary Arts class. 

After lunch, community members toured the school’s CTE classrooms getting to see students in the midst of hands on learning.

Campbell County Chamber of Commerce Director Missy Tackett said the goal of Tuesday’s event was to “see all exciting things going on at the high school.”

CTE Supervisor Traci Chambers talked about the importance of CTE curriculum for students at Tuesday’s Lunch and Learn at CCHS.

“CTE is getting more involved in the chamber and we’re so excited about that. Lunch and Learn events are about networking and connecting people and providing topics of interest to our business community,” Tackett said. 

Community leaders and business partners like the Tennessee College of Applied Technology and the American Jobs Center attended the Lunch and Learn. Campbell County Mayor Jack Lynch and Vice Mayor Randy Brown were also in attendance. 

Pictured is a chicken coop built by students.

Campbell County High School Principal Ben Foust expressed his “sincere gratitude” to the Chamber and others in attendance for “investing in our students.”

Campbell County Director of Schools Jennifer Fields spoke at the event, as did CTE Supervisor Tracy Chambers and Gearup TN Director Monica Bane, along with Tennessee Workforce and Development Labor specialist Michael Pugh.

Director of Schools Jennifer Fields addressed those in attendance at the Chamber’s Lunch and Learn at CCHS on Tuesday.

Director of schools Jennifer Fields spoke about the improvements and investments that have take place throughout the school district, such as new roofs for all schools. 

Additional student services were also added with more counselors at every school. 

The district has added playgrounds to every school, added outdoor classrooms to the elementary schools, added fencing, the parking lots have been redone, and the district offers summer school, and many of the schools have been painted, “just to name a few improvements.”

“We’re doing a building expansion at Jacksboro Elementary expanding the gym and cafeteria. We have increased technology county wide as well. We’ve aded security cameras throughout the schools and they have been a great assett. There is no price you can put on the safety of students,” Fields said.

CCHS Welding Instructor Chris Ralston, right, and some of his students during the tour of the CTE wing at Tuesday’s Lunch and Learn sponsored by the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce.

She thanked the community members and business partners at the Lunch and Learn event and said she was excited about the continuing improvements to the school district. 

Campbell County High School Career and Technical Education Supervisor Traci Chambers spoke next, saying the school’s CTE program has been growing in leaps and bounds. 

Chambers spoke about the importance of the career and technology education curriculum at CCHS.

“There are so many opportunities for these students, from welding and building trades, to cosmetology, culinary arts, criminal justice and  much more. I’m so excited for Campbell County and Jellico High schools and everything that we have going on. I’m so impressed with our teachers and with our CTE program and our students,” Chambers said.

She was a CTE teacher for 15 years and said she knew first hand how important CTE courses were for the students.

She shared the exciting news that through a large grant recently received, the CTE program would be expanding. This will include renovations and “re-doing” the welding lab at the Jellico High School, along with other projects. 

Campbell County High School Principal Ben Foust takes a group to tour the Automotive technology classroom at CCHS at Tuesday’s Lunch and Learn sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and hosted at CCHS.

“We will also be opening a new program of study in HVAC here at CCHS in the next couple of years too,” Chambers said. She also reported that the “CTE programs have moved into the middle schools.”

Gear Up TN Director Monica Bane spoke about her program and its interactive role with the CTE programs.

 Gearup provides opportunities for college preparation, including Career and Technical Education certificates as well.

“We do college visits, and a lot of FAFSAs. We have a lot of students that just don’t know what is out there as far as opportunities,” Bane said. 

She touched on the annual career fair which is the most interactive aspect of Gearup TN with the school’s CTE program.

The career fair gives students an opportunity to interact with area businesses and organizations, to obtain career information, job opportunities, and networking experience.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished. We have worked so hard that we’ve worked ourselves out of the grant, our college going rate last year was higher than the state’s,” Bane reported. 

She also shared plans were in place for the next career fair at CCHS, which will be in March.

The Campbell County Chamber of Commerce held its Lunch and Learn event at CCHS on Tuesday with the high school’s Career and Technical Education programs being the key focus. Chamber Director Missy Tackett talks with CTE Coach Josh Parker at Tuesday’s luncheon.

Tennessee Department of Workforce and Development Labor specialist Michael Pugh spoke about the positives of work based learning programs and hiring younger employees.

“What’s bad about getting an employee that you can mold them and train them the way you want to? Nothing. These work based learning programs are great and are needed. We’re hoping these work based learning programs will help these students get matched up with trades,” Pugh said.

Career and Technology Education coach Josh Parker echoed that sentiment.

“We want to provide a pipeline to local businesses with employees. We will train them. Once you get in the classrooms and see what these kids are working on, it will amaze you,” Parker said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 12/13/2023-6AM)

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