FAIRHOPE -- An Eastern Shore program is working to help local students and the economy prepare to meet the growing demand for hundreds of thousands of skilled Alabama workers in the near future.
The Student Training and Exploration Program is a leadership and career pathway exploration initiative. The program engages selected students in the ninth grade and follows them through high school.
This year, 35 students graduated from STEP. The program helps students prepare for careers in growing fields right out of high school, Christiana Hellmich, Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce director of workforce development, said.
“It gives students an opportunity to learn about high-demand opportunities right in their own back yard,” she said. “It’s important for our students to know what is available for them right here in Southwest Alabama.”
The program fits in with Gov. Kay Ivey’s “Success Plus” initiative that calls for adding 500,000 workforce ready employees by 2025, Hellmich said.
Since STEP began, about 250 students have gone through the program. Organizers plan to expand STEP next year to give students a better idea of what will be expected of workers, not just technical abilities, but how to function in a workplace, she said.
“We want to help them develop the soft skills that sometimes we take for granted,” Hellmich said. “We’re going to do more to simulate the workplace environment so they’ll understand what’s expected of them if they go into a career right out of high school.”
Students work with local industries to prepare for careers in growing fields such as aerospace, manufacturing, construction, healthcare and hospitality, Hellmich said.
The program also helps to instill confidence and self-esteem in order for students to reach their highest potential of success. STEP works in cooperation with the Baldwin County Board of Education, local colleges, technical training facilities and local industries to connect educators to businesses on the Eastern Shore.
“Our goal is for our students to graduate knowing more about the career options available here on the Eastern Shore,” Hellmich said.
The students will finish out the program by creating a career plan and timeline based on their goals after high school graduation.
“I hope each of our students have become more self-aware, confident and determined,” said Hellmich. “With these tools, we know these students will be well on their way to achieving success.”
She said the STEP program is supported by the chamber Board of Directors and Chamber Foundation Chairman Steve Carey, as well as local high schools and counselors. Daphne Utilities is the workforce development sponsor, while the raduation sponsor is Old Tyme Feed.
