THE SHOALS-The Shoals Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Northwest-Shoals Community College, is offering the Workforce Readiness Institute for Educators program on June 12-15 and June 19-21. The Institute offers professional development opportunities for middle and high school math and science teachers, counselors and school administrators to network with local industry leaders, learn about local career opportunities and discover how math and science are applied in the workforce.
Twenty-one educators from four northwest Alabama counties make up the 2018 class. 
The class will tour northwest Alabama businesses and industries to see various technical skills in use and hear from the employers concerning their workforce challenges, the increasing demand for and decreasing supply of technically skilled workers, and the career paths and salary ranges to which these skills lead.
Industry tours include: Alabama Robotics Technology Park, TVA Power Service Shops, G&G Steel, Wilson Lock, Lockheed Martin, Toyota (Huntsville), North American Lighting, Spry-Mitchell Farm, Walker Family Farms, Constellium, International Fertilizer Development Center, Helen Keller Hospital, TASUS, Applied Chemical Technologies, FreightCar America, Southwire “12 for Life,” Shoals Entrepreneurial Center and UNA’s Engineering Technology 
program.
The educators will also tour the technical programs at Northwest-Shoals Community College and learn about the levels of math and science each program requires. Technical programs will include Machine Tool, Welding, Industrial Systems Maintenance, Industrial Electronics, Nursing, EMS, Medical Assisting Tech., Ready-to-Work, Salon & Spa, Heating & Air, Auto Service & Collision, and Design Engineering.
“I cannot say enough positive things about the Shoals Summer Institute program,” said Lauderdale County Schools Career Coach Brandi Walton. “The knowledge of careers and skilled trades that you gain is invaluable, and it’s great information we can share with our peers as well.”
Stephanie Newland
“The program will be seven fun and exhausting days of first-hand, eyes-on, hands-on learning about the exciting careers in technical fields, while networking with other educators and business leaders,” said Stephanie Newland, Shoals Chamber Vice President of Education Workforce Readiness. “This program will also help counselors learn how to better advise students about their career choices and be up-to-speed on what is offered through NW-SCC’s dual-enrollment, credit and non-credit technical training programs.”
This program would not be possible without grants from the Alabama Office of Workforce Development and generous contributions from Northwest-Shoals Community College, North American Lighting, Constellium, Helen Keller Hospital, Southwire, Walker Family Farms, Toyota and UNA’s Engineering Technology program.
