Pennsylvania Sec. Manderino Continues 'Jobs that Pay' Tour at Wallenpaupack Area High School

HAWLEY, Pa., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Kathy Manderino continued the 'Jobs that Pay' tour at Wallenpaupack Area High School in Hawley. She toured the school's CTE program and participated in a business and education roundtable following the tour. Sec. Manderino was joined by Rep. Mike Peifer, Wayne County Commissioner Joe Adams, Pike County Commissioner Matt Osterberg, Pike County Commissioner Steve Guccini, representatives of the Wayne Economic Development Corporation, Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance, the Pocono Counties Workforce Investment Board, and administrators from Wallenpaupack Area School District.

"CTE programs like this are an effective way of showing students the possibilities of a career in the manufacturing industry," said Sec. Manderino. "Tools such as career and technical education, job shadowing, or apprenticeships help to expose today's young people to the advantages and opportunities in manufacturing, and ultimately, help them prepare for the realities of the world of 21st century work."

The Wallenpaupack Area High School's CTE program that is currently in place has proven effective with successful outcomes. The model of that program is similar to what the Career Readiness Initiative, a partnership between L&I, the Department of Education and Team PA, aims to replicate statewide. A Career Readiness Council, similar to a Workforce Development Board, will focus on looking at issues in the K – 12 grade sphere. The goal is to develop a structure to bring businesses to the table with education policy-makers to better inform curriculum development.  The key to the initiative is significant input from businesses, career and technical educators and representatives from higher education.

After the tour at Wallenpaupack Area High School, the secretary sat down with area employers, education providers and workforce development representatives for a business roundtable discussion.

"These roundtables are a great tool in improving our workforce development system, not only statewide, but locally as well," said Sec. Manderino. "But perhaps more importantly, they allow area employers, workforce and economic development agencies, and education providers the chance to get in a room together, exchange ideas, and educate each other on what is needed and what is available for employers in their communities."

Representatives from businesses such as Woodlock Properties, Honesdale National Bank, AJ Automotive, Leeward Construction Inc. and Lake Region IGA, among others, participated in the roundtable with the local economic and workforce development groups.

The 'Jobs that Pay' tour is an effort by state agencies to promote good-paying, family-sustaining jobs and career-paths available to job-seekers across the commonwealth, and to listen and learn from employers and employees about workforce development needs.

MEDIA CONTACT: Theresa Elliott, 717-787-7530

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry