SECOND ANNUAL ALCOA FOUNDATION TEACHERS’ MANUFACTURING BOOTCAMP TO BEGIN IN JUNE
Program designed to create new, job-ready workforce
Teachers and guidance counselors from a four-county area have been selected for a unique program that will provide hands-on instruction to teachers about careers in manufacturing, the backbone of Indiana’s economy.
The Alcoa Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to develop the “Teachers’ Manufacturing Bootcamp,†a program administered by the Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce Investment Board. The program provides a weekly stipend to teachers during the two-week program and free, graduate-level credit from Oakland City University.
The Teachers’ Manufacturing Bootcamp will be targeted to educators in Warrick, Posey, Vanderburgh and Gibson counties. It will involve hands-on instruction at manufacturing locations with assistance from Ivy Tech Community College, Oakland City University and the University of Southern Indiana.
According to data from the Indiana Manufacturing Association and the National Association of Manufacturers, the annual average wage for manufacturing careers in the state of Indiana is $70,333. Also, research shows that more than 25 percent of all earnings in our state come from manufacturing – making Indiana number one in the nation.
Also, manufacturing is the biggest segment of the state’s economy, outranking every other economic sector. It has accounted for more than half of the state’s growth in the last five years. Despite these impressive numbers, manufacturers report difficulty in recruiting and preparing the next generation of employees for these rewarding careers.
The goal of the Teachers’ Manufacturing Bootcamp is to demonstrate to educators the rewarding careers available in manufacturing and also break stereotypes about the jobs that are available today.
“Many manufacturers in our region are aware of their future workforce needs and the inaccurate perception of their industry,†says Jim Heck, executive director of the Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce Investment Board, Inc. “This program will arm teachers with the knowledge to influence the future pipeline of employees.â€
Thirty educators will be selected in the first year of the two-year program, which officially begins on Monday, June 13, and will include time at four participating manufacturers – Alcoa, SABIC Innovative Plastics, Berry Plastics and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.
“Alcoa is proud of the results and the collaboration that has already taken place from this grant,†said Jeff Boris, Location Manager for Alcoa Global Packaging at Alcoa Warrick Operations. “The teachers selected for this program will learn about the careers available in manufacturing and they will be able to take back some skills that they can apply in their classrooms.â€
The curriculum for the program will be developed in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College and will include material on manufacturing safety, quality, lean manufacturing, process management, and reliability excellence. During visits to manufacturing locations, the educators will learn about job responsibilities, wages, work conditions, and career potential.
In addition, participating teachers will complete homework assignments, incorporate what they learn into classroom lessons, receive a weekly stipend of $550 and graduate-level credit from Oakland City University.
Here is a list of the teachers who have been selected for the 2016 Alcoa Foundation Teachers’ Manufacturing Bootcamp:
Dakota Adcox – Central High School
Erin Baumgardner – Harrison High School
Beau Brandt – North High School
Kyle Brasher – Gibson Southern High School
Chad Cain – Harrison High School
Mary Lou Fish – Lodge Community School
Sarah Elaman – Castle High School
Max Engelhardt – Central High School
Chad Fetscher – Harrison High School
Virginia Fields – North High School
Emil Fleck – Bosse High School
Bridget Fussner – Castle North Middle School
Matt Hart – Gibson Southern High School
Chad Hartmann – Helfrich Park STEM Academy
Chris Hillenbrand – Boonville Middle School
Sara Killebrew – Castle North Middle School
Craig Maikranz – Gibson Southern High School
Brittany Morrison – North High School
Janelle Nisly – Bosse High School
Amy Norris – Gibson Southern High School
Ryan Osborn – Harrison High School
David Purvis – Mt Vernon Junior High School
Becki Recker – Castle High School
Clara Roberts – Bosse High School
Kerry Sensenbrenner – Castle North Middle School
Darlene Short – Castle North Middle School
Corey Simon – North High School
Johnathan Spencer – North High School
Melanie Wagner – Princeton Comm Middle School
Beth Willner – Harrison High School
For more information or to apply for the Teachers’ Manufacturing Bootcamp visit http://www.TeachersBootcamp2016.com or contact Grow Southwest Indiana Workforce, 812.492.4505.
