RUTHERFORD COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – Rutherford County is one of the fastest growing communities in Tennessee, and Rutherford County Schools leaders are training high school students to help support the region’s workforce.
“Career and Technical education is what keeps our kids at school,” said Rutherford County Schools Career and Technical Education Coordinator Tyra Pilgrim. “The students are 1000% enganged and they are making a difference.”
The ambulance simulator at Rockvale High School transports students to life as an EMT inside their own classroom.
“Practicing their skills in a controlled setting to where if they make a mistake it’s OK they can just keep practicing and do better,” said Pilgrim.
Pilgrim leads CTE efforts in Rutherford County Schools with a report dating back to 2014 helping to guide their goals. She said a Harvard study, which included interviews with local leaders, projected which job sectors would see the most growth.
“2024 – last year – what they projected is what happened,” Pilgrim said. “So our high sectors are advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, construction and technology.”
Nearly 70% of all RCS high school students are concentrated in CTE pathways, according to Director of Schools Dr. Jimmy Sullivan. The district works with the chamber of commerce and businesses to craft its CTE plans, bringing hands-on training into RCS high schools. From culinary arts to machinery, agriculture, construction, and healthcare, instructors with real-world experience help students earn industry credentials to support critical employment needs in the region.
“We’re standing in Mr Johnson’s lab — he has industry partners that are telling him this is what we need — these are the kids that the students need when they’re coming into the workforce,” said Pilgrim.
February is national CTE month.The Tennessee Department of Education reports that the 2023-24 school year saw 33% more students earn industry credentials from the previous year totaling 64,100 students.
“High school has exploded probably in 10-15 years where we’re really focusing on some of these high paying jobs,” said Rockvale High School Pcincipal, Steve Luker. “For instance in machining some of our students have even been offered jobs when they leave this program.”
In 2023, The Association for Career and Technical Education announced Pilgrim, as their Region II Administrator of the Year.
“I’ve been in this job for 10 years and I could not imagine doing anything else,” she said. “It is so fulfilling to me to be able to be a part of it. We have a great team. My teachers I would put them up against anyone in the world because they love their craft and are sharing it with the next generation.
