The Trumbull County school district counselors engage in monthly collaborative meetings throughout the academic year. This year's kick-off meeting occurred at the TCESC Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship program faculty in Lordstown. This unique opportunity provided the counselors with a firsthand experience of the program's remarkable benefits and its ability to nurture student success in just a year.
The Niles City School District has taken full advantage of the program, with 16 out of 26 students proudly identifying as Red Dragons, a testament to the program's effectiveness.
Niles Guidance Counselor Tracy Lastic highlights the program's transformative impact: "We've witnessed a remarkable transformation in our students, with some teetering on the brink of not graduating. Thanks to this program, we've witnessed a resurgence of excitement and determination in them. To illustrate, two young men who had once contemplated dropping out of school had their academic journey redirected and saved by this very program."
Students who complete the program will attain several industry-recognized certifications and qualify for the Ohio CarpeCarpenter'senticeship program, which pairs apprentices with employers in the Mahoning Valley and statewide.