By Stefan Yablonski
The relationship between local industry and students in high school is reaping rewards to manufacturers who recognize the value of staying proactive, according to Brian Heffron, administrator of workforce development and community relations at the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation (CiTi).
“You’ve got some very passionate people in this county. Back in 2016, when we were just starting this program, we had to go knock on doors and ask industries to like us,” he said. “We have come a long way since then. Now it’s like they just come to us. It’s funny how things have changed in just eight, 10 years.”
The success they are experiencing with students successfully transitioning from school to workspaces is rooted in an active investment from industry to build relationships with students as early as ninth grade, he said.
Workforce development recognition
In February, Oswego County met goals established by ACT to become the first designated Work-Ready Community in New York state as well as the northeastern United States.
“What this designation recognizes is that we have a certain percentage of individuals in the community who have completed the ACT Work Keys career assessments and we have a certain percentage of employers in the county who have recognized the value of the ACT Work Keys in supporting an individual’s transition into employment,” Heffron said. “This is a significant achievement — the outcome of partnerships between Oswego County IDA, Shineman Foundation, CiTi BOCES, Oswego County Workforce Development.
More kids are choosing to work toward careers.
At [high school] graduations it used to be they announced all the kids [going to colleges] and then they’d add ‘workforce,’ he said.
“And now, it’s like kids are going workforce — great money, a great investment for the community. The old perception is changing, a lot. And I find that is changing with parents as well since when I started in 2016,” Heffron added. “The purpose of a career program is to transition kids into careers. The majority of questions I get from parents is, ‘how many credits does this transfer over to the college degree?’ Yes, they do transfer over — but the purpose is to ready the kids to enter the workforce.
“I think parents had that stigma thing — ‘oh, your kid is going to workforce.’ Now it’s more like, ‘Do you know what happened to Joe who graduated last year? He’s working for Novelis or National Grid and making X amount of dollars.’ All of a sudden it is becoming a lot more attractive.”
When other kids hear about what a kid has done after the program — they are going to want to do it, Heffron said. “I think that’s why we are seeing a record number of students this year. Micron has helped tremendously; they have a publicity machine that is far greater than anything we’ve ever had. A lot of parents are asking, ‘my kid wants to work at Micron, how does he do that?’ This is becoming normal now.”
What he hears most from employers and what sets these graduates entering the field apart from traditional pathways is their advancement in the areas of professional skills, he added.
“Manufacturing, in terms of student population, is one of our biggest programs. I would say our biggest and most popular courses are things like welding, heavy equipment … hands-on,” Heffron said. “We have started to see some upticks in our nursing program and even in our coding program.
“We’re excited here. We are running out of room — we’ve got to find more room, more classes.”
CiTi Programs Driving Changes in Workforce Landscape
CiTi programs are actively driving the transformation of Central New York’s workforce landscape through innovative initiatives and strategic partnerships. Examples include the following:
• CiTi’s Career Technical Education Program in Central New York offers 18 industry-based programs with opportunities for work-based learning and internships. Each program is approved by NYSED, providing students with a range of benefits including academic credits, graduation pathways and industry certifications. The instructors, mostly industry professionals, bring real-world experience to the classroom, while industry advisory committees ensure curriculum relevance. Additionally, the program covers all costs for supplies, materials, certifications, and licensures, removing barriers for students pursuing careers in local industries.
• CiTi’s Distance Learning Program, in collaboration with Onondaga Community College and Cayuga Community College, has been enriching high school education with early college opportunities for 25 years. Open to students in grades 10-12 from various districts, the program seamlessly integrates college-level courses through interactive videoconferencing. State-of-the-art labs support synchronous and asynchronous classes, facilitating up to four districts simultaneously. Currently offering pathways in American sign language, health science, general education and criminal justice, the program is expanding to include advanced manufacturing and teaching assistant-teacher pathways. Students can earn up to 12-14 college credits per year, with courses contributing to potential certifications or associate degrees. The program, which supported 577 enrollments in 2023-24, demonstrates its commitment to workforce readiness through initiatives like Virtual Summer College, providing comprehensive educational opportunities beyond the traditional academic year.
• CiTi’s Adult Education offerings, including practical nursing and entry level driver training, are actively boosting Central New York’s workforce. With practical nursing, the program plans to enroll 50 students, offering a comprehensive 1,200-hour curriculum encompassing didactic, lab and clinical experiences, leading to certification as practical nurses who serve vital roles in healthcare settings. Meanwhile, the entry-level driver training program, enrolling up to 80 students annually, adheres to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration standards; ensuring graduates become safe drivers who meet industry regulations. Graduates of both programs find employment in essential sectors such as healthcare facilities, trucking, construction, and government departments, thus directly addressing workforce demands in the region.
• CiTi’s Pathway in Education Early College High School (P-TECH) program is actively enhancing the future workforce in Central New York by offering ninth-grade students a unique opportunity to earn both high school and college credits through an advanced manufacturing pathway. This program, in collaboration with Onondaga Community College, culminates in a two-year associate degree. With a curriculum emphasizing hands-on learning and a blend of academic, technical and professional skills, tailored to meet the demands of local industries such as Novelis, Huhtamaki, EJ USA and Constellation, students are well-prepared for future employment or higher education. Essential to their success are industry mentoring, job shadowing and internships, providing invaluable real-world experience and facilitating a smooth transition into rewarding careers in local manufacturing.
