Springdale Schools students to enter NWA workforce

More than 50?Springdale Public Schools ?students from?Archer Learning Center ,?Don Tyson School of Innovation ?and?Har-Ber ?and?Springdale ?high schools participated in a Career and Technical Education Signing Day May 2 in the Springdale High School gymnasium.

Participating students committed to apprenticeships and employment positions, such as plumbing and electrical apprenticeships, patient care technicians, Instructional assistants, pastry chefs, industrial maintenance specialists and environmental service technicians with multiple Northwest Arkansas employers at the event.

"The world is changing rapidly, and it's more important than ever that we prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow," said?Dr. Jared Cleveland, Springdale Public Schools superintendent. "The connection between education and the workforce is essential for our economy and society."

Mike Rogers, Arkansas Chief Workforce Officer, was the event's keynote speaker.

Rogers said he was proud of the participating students, who had caught the vision that's accessible through career and technical education.

"This is really just the launch. This isn't the end game," Rogers told the students.

The students are still developing as industry professionals, he said, and are putting themselves in position to have have future options within the Northwest Arkansas workforce.

Rep. Robin Lundstrum,?Rodney Ellis, district Workforce Training director,?Debbie Creek, School Board secretary,?Clinton Bell?and?Eddie Ramos, School Board members,?Dr. Marcia Smith,?Shannon Tisher?and?Melissa Fink, the district Curriculum and Instruction team, and?Kendra Clay, district general counsel, also attended the event.

Aaron Thomas, Don Tyson School of Innovation, committed to a position as an HVAC technician with?Kimbel Mechanical Systems ?at the event.

"From here, I am planning on going to college for electrical engineering," Thomas said. "This program has helped me put my foot into the door of the trade, and I'll be able to learn the basic building blocks of most jobs in the industry while earning money to help pay for any schools."

Cleveland said the public education system has to keep up with the job market.

"Education needs to be adaptable and flexible. It needs to evolve alongside technological advancements and shifts in the job market," Cleveland said. "Education systems that are stuck in the past cannot prepare students for the jobs of the future."

Career and Technical Education Signing Day participants included:

Archer Learning Center

Adriana Aldaco:?Crossland Construction, Apprentice Carpenter

Josef Ramirez:?Marr’s Electric: Apprentice Electrician

Don Tyson School of Innovation

Gabriel Alvarado:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Jacob Barnett:?Northwest Arkansas Sheetmetal, Fabricator

August Burns:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Brandon Castro:?Brunner & Lay, Apprentice Machinist

Emiliano Castro:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Jasmin Coronado Lopez:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Chance Earp:?Brunner & Lay, Apprentice Machinist

William Graef:?Rise Baking Company, Information Technology

Brady Henson:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Kyle Hernandez:?Stribling Equipment, Diesel Technician Apprentice

Austin Holt:?Allied NWA, HVAC Technician

Rita Hudson:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Hamzah Imbrahim:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Christian Mata-Venegas:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Brad Sparrow:?Walmart Transportation, Diesel Technician Apprentice

Kaylee Tharp:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Max Tisher:?Brunner and Lay, Forge Technician

Aaron Thomas:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Matilyn Townson:?Springdale Public Schools, Instructional Assistant

Epifanio Trejo Flores:?Multi-Craft Contractors, Fabricator and Welder

Jose Velazquez:?Allied NWA, HVAC Technician

Har-Ber High School

Hayden Burton:?Davis Plumbing, Apprentice Plumber

Donna Jones:?Maples at Har-Ber Meadows, Certified Nursing Assistant

Deon McDaniel:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, Apprentice Plumber

Oscar Mendieta:?Lightspeed Electrical Services, Technician

Conner Nichols:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, Electrician

Kemella Sayger:?Elite Home Health, Certified Nursing Assistant

Isaias Torres:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Sydney Wonnacott:?Maples at Har-Ber Meadows, Certified Nursing Assistant

Springdale High School

Dylan Artley:?JD Enterprise Foundation, General Laborer

Angel Bueno:?Marr’s Electric, Apprentice Electrician

Angel Bustamante:?Multi-Craft Contractors, Apprentice Electrician

Arthur Clark:?Marr’s Electric, Apprentice Electrician

Nickalus Collier:?Springstreet Grill, Pastry Chef

Andrew Galvan-Cendejas:?Marr’s Electric, Apprentice Electrician

Kelvin Gomez:?Ground Zero Construction, Utilities Technician

Jose Leon:?Multi-Craft Contractors, Apprentice Electrician

Hallie Lieutard:?Mercy, Patient Care Technician

Mickey Makabe: Tyson Foods, Cornish Tray Packer

Kerwyn Mathews: ORC Products, Machinist

Mario Melquiades:?Multi-Craft Contractors, Apprentice Electrician

Damian Mendoza-Razo:?Tyson Foods, Industrial Maintenance

Dylen Pike:?Marr’s Electric, Apprentice Electrician

Zoe Rogers:?Northwest Medical Center, Environmental Service Technician

Dakota Reed:?Kimbel Mechanical Systems, HVAC Technician

Bryson Scott:?Marr’s Electric Apprentice Electrician

Devon Tincher:?ORC Products, Machinist

Augustin Torres:?Emery Sapp & Son, Concrete Finisher

Fausto Vela:?J & J Construction, Construction-Truck Driver

The signing day event was offered as part of Springdale Public Schools’?Career and Technical Education ?programming. Students engaged in CTE courses are both college and career ready. A variety of district CTE learning opportunities are available outside the classroom, to include internships, competitive events, field trips and professional networking. Students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.