MARCH 2020
Welcome to our newsletter:
CONNECTING KIDS TO LOCAL CAREERS
TN-CAPS lesson plans are now available! Educators from across the state are using these resources to give students a chance to learn about job skills and local career opportunities. If you want to use the lessons in your school visit www.TN-CAPS.com .
TEACHERS HAVE REPORTED TN-CAPS WILL BE PROVIDING UP TO 10,000 STUDENT EXPERIENCES!
Thank you to the educators who are bringing FREE career-focused lesson plans into their classrooms. Because of them, students are now learning about careers in computer programming, production management, nursing, and many more industry sectors in their region.

Take a look at just a few of these experiences from the past month:

“The lesson plan connected so many STEM concepts we are trying to drive home, such as collaboration and the engineering design process. It really helped the students make real world connections to what we are doing in class.”
Jenna Burke, STEM teacher at Sycamore Elementary School, Collierville Schools

Left to right: Nursing lesson in Hillary Laughlin's 5th grade class at Andrew Johnson Elementary School ; Production Management lesson in Emily Colbert's class at Riverdale High School; CNC Operator/Machinist lesson with Carrier Corporation in Jenna Burke's 4th grade class at Sycamore Elementary School ; Computer Programmer lesson with Thinking Media in Sarah Moran's kindergarten class at North Hamilton County Elementary School
LISTEN UP
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry President/CEO Bradley Jackson & Learning Blade CEO Sheila Boyington discuss Tennessee's Game-Changing TN-CAPS Initiative

“If students learn about careers early and find what they’re interested in, they can identify paths to careers they will like and enjoy while helping the economy, as well.”
Bradley Jackson, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry

SPOTLIGHTING TN-CAPS TO TN INDUSTRY
A sold-out audience at the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry's 2020 Annual Meeting heard about TN-CAPS that is the new teacher resource that and how it is transforming Tennessee classrooms, giving students an early look at career fields and employers, providing a way to jump start workforce development in K-12.
(Dr. Dane Boyington and Dr. Jared Bigham pictured right.)

"The link between education and a strong workforce is evident. Through the Tennessee Career Awareness and Preparation System, Tennessee students now have more awareness and access to local careers at an earlier age than ever before. The Tennessee Chamber is helping fill this void – by engaging businesses, local chambers and other leaders together around important issues for our state and local economies."
Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
TEACHERS
Connect your students to careers in your community
BUSINESSES
Connect your business to your future workforce
EVERYONE
For the latests updates on TN-CAPS
FORWARD TO A FRIEND
Help spread the word about this great opportunity coming to classrooms across Tennessee! Forward this email to your colleagues and ask them to sign up to stay informed and receive updates on TN-CAPS!

Have relevant workforce development news in your area? We want to know!
News From Our Pilot Communities:
MTSU, Rockvale High dual enrollment agreement provides opportunities for students
MTSU and first-year Rockvale High School signed a partnership agreement Thursday, March 5, that will encourage the university and Rockvale to create additional dual enrollment opportunities for high school students. ... Read More
A Superintendent’s Commitment to Getting Students ‘Future Ready’
If Bryan Johnson wanted to illustrate quickly why he built a new system of career pathways in his school district, he could just point to Waltkia Clay... Read More
Cleveland/Bradley Chamber Salutes 2020 Outstanding Educators
Teachers from the Bradley County and Cleveland City School Systems were celebrated, surrounded by their families, peers, educational administrators and community leaders, with a Chamber maximum capacity crowd. .. Read More
Mayor Lee Harris delivers 'State of the County' address at Collierville High School
This year’s theme is “We Can Do More." Mayor Harris spent about 30 minutes of his second State of the County address inside Collierville High School, a school where they spent nearly $100 million to build ... Read More
Tennessee graduation rate hits all-time high in the 2018-19 school year
The state increased its overall graduation rate to 89.7% and gained half a percentage point over the previous year. Over 65,000 students graduated in 2018-19, with 183 graduates over the previous year, according to state numbers.... Read More
Kingsport Kids Business Expo
The Kingsport Chamber of Commerce held its first ever Kids Business Expo in February. Nearly 40 high school and middle school students were on hand showing off their budding entrepreneurial skills, selling a variety of homemade items, from pastries to jewelry, clothing and slime, to fishing flies and card games. ... Read More

JMCSS receives $100,000 state grant to support new LOOP initiative
Students in Jackson-Madison County will soon have the opportunity to earn manufacturing experience while still in school while earning a paycheck... Read More