Youth Apprenticeship Agreements Signed

YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP AGREEMENTS SIGNED

Caroline County Public Schools

FEB 08, 2024

Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS) recently signed on to four Youth Apprenticeship agreements, three in the CCPS Technology Department and one in the Chesapeake Culinary Arts Center.

Four students and their parents completed the paperwork necessary to finalize the apprenticeship agreement:

• Evamarie Vargas Villacorta, NCHS junior, and father Norman Vargas (CCAC)
• Dana Velasquez-Cifuentes, NCHS junior, and father Ediberto Velazquez (Technology)
• Lawrence (Will) Johnson, NCHS senior, and parents Billy and Roseann Johnson (Technology)
• Wilson Clough, CRHS junior, and his parents Michael and Amy Clough (Technology)

Supervisor of Technology Jason Wielgosz and CCPS Food Services Chef David Murray signed the employer portions of the agreement, and CCPS Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator Eric Cook signed on behalf of CCPS Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Derek Simmons said, “This is an exciting day for CCPS and a long time in the making.” He explained that former Assistant Superintendent Milton Nagel envisioned CCPS, the largest employer in Caroline, engaging in Youth Apprenticeships and laid the groundwork for it to happen. Dr. Simmons thanked Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator Eric Cook and school counselors for their diligence in bringing it to fruition, and Mr. Wielgosz and Chef Murray for working through the logistics for apprenticeships in their departments. He reflected that it all came together with “the right opportunities with the right students at the right time.”

CCPS’s Director of College and Career Readiness Lindsey McCormick and school counselors Ann Ferkler, Jacqueline Holtzman, and Jennifer Reed were in attendance to congratulate and support their students.

The Maryland State Department of Education sent representatives Tracy Kyttle, Director of Apprenticeships and Industry Recognized Credentials, Jennifer Griffin, Career Programs and Apprenticeship Specialist, and Pamela Clay, Career and Technical Education Associate.  Shay Lewis-Sisco, Career Coach from Dorchester County Public Schools also attended to learn more about the Youth Apprenticeship process at CCPS.

More information about the Youth Apprenticeship Program may be found on the Caroline County Public Schools website. Local businesses interested in partnering with Youth Apprenticeship or students and parents interested in the program should contact Eric Cook, cook.eric@ccpsstaff.org.

All event photos may be viewed on the Caroline Flickr page.

Original Source: https://www.carolineschools.org/article/1452557