Recommendations / Workforce / Big Idea # 2: Gear Up

Big Idea # 2: Gear Up

Part of the "THINC THANK" initiative

WorkforceLagrange/Troup Under $250,000

Overview

Gear Up is a program designed to promote advanced manufacturing as a viable career option by combining apprenticeships for high school students with summer internships for teachers. Industry partners would each take three high school seniors for one semester and one teacher for an intensive five-week internship experience. Students would participate in work-based learning activities, including job shadowing and lower-risk hands-on activities, while professional mentors help them build soft skills such as punctuality, communication, and problem-solving. Teachers would spend time embedded in plant operations and then submit a new or improved lesson plan and a career mini-lesson based on their summer experience.

Action plan

Short-term
Identify industry partners willing to participate, starting with current partners and pitching this as the next stage before moving to new potential partners. Identify a countywide coordinator for the program.
Medium-term
Assemble funds for student grants and teacher stipends; create marketing materials such as flyers and collateral; create application and selection criteria; identify criteria for the two teacher submissions at the end of the program.
Long-term
Plan a year-end field trip to Auburn University and Georgia Tech. Identify and formalize effectiveness measures for evaluating the program.

Expected impact

Manufacturing Career ExcitementEconomic

Tracks whether students show increased excitement for advanced manufacturing as a career.

Teacher Lesson Plan OutputEconomic

Tracks whether participating teachers submit a new or improved lesson plan and a career mini-lesson based on their summer experience.

Projected: 2 Teacher submissions
Advanced Manufacturing Career InterestEducational

Tracks whether more Troup County students choose advanced manufacturing as a career option.

Timeframe: Long-term
Teacher-Student-Industry InteractionEconomic

Tracks whether interaction increases between teachers, students, and industry partners.

Dropout Rate ReductionInfrastructure

Tracks whether dropout rates decrease due to students seeing possible future career pathways.

Timeframe: Long-term
Teacher Emphasis on Manufacturing CareersEducational

Tracks whether high school teachers place greater emphasis on advanced manufacturing as a viable career.

Student Awareness of Manufacturing OpportunitiesEducational

Tracks whether high school students increase awareness of manufacturing opportunities.

Engineering Talent RetentionEducational

Tracks projected retained engineers generated by the program over time.

Projected: 18 Engineers retained · Timeframe: Long-term
Apprenticeship Program LaunchEconomic

Tracks whether the apprenticeship and teacher internship program is up and running.

Projected: 1 Program · Timeframe: Short-term
Industry Partner ParticipationEducational

Tracks the number of industry partners participating in the program.

Projected: 1 to 3 Industry partners
Student Apprenticeship ParticipationEducational

Tracks the number of high school seniors placed with industry partners.

Projected: 3 per industry partner Students
Teacher Internship ParticipationEducational

Tracks the number of teachers participating in summer internships with industry partners.

Projected: 1 per industry partner Teachers

Key stakeholders

Troup County School SystemthINC Academy Board of AdvisorsCountywide CoordinatorIndustry PartnersDuracellJindalKia Motors Manufacturing GeorgiaMobisInterfaceSewonGeorgia PowerElectric Cities of GeorgiaCaterpillarMountville MillsMillikenAuburn University - CEOE, Center for Educational Outreach & EngagementAuburn Engineering Outreach OfficeGeorgia Institute of Technology - CEISMCWest Georgia Technical CollegeLaGrange CollegeAmerican Council of Engineering Companies of GeorgiaGeorgia Society of Professional EngineersCallaway FoundationGovernor’s Office of Student Achievement Innovation GrantNational Science Foundation Grant

Estimated budget

$30,000 per year for three students at ten industry partners, costing $1,000 each; $20,000 per year for one teacher at ten industry partners, costing $2,000 each; $5,000-$10,000 for marketing materials such as brochures and ads; $5,000-$10,000 for application and selection materials; $1,500 per year for college field trips.