By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer 

MONTEVALLO – Students at Montevallo High School had the chance to listen to local industry leaders, administrators and teachers talk about their experiences in the workforce during an Education Connections Roundtable event on Oct. 15.

Students broke into groups and rotated through different table topics: employability, career opportunities, career development and partnerships.

“I think it’s very beneficial for our students,” MHS Principal Steve Bromley said. “I think it’s also good to form partnerships outside and bring them in to see the good things happening in our schools.”

Shelby County Schools Career Technical Education presents the program in partnership with The Shelby County Chamber to facilitate face-to-face conversations between students and business representatives in different career clusters.

“This is the future workforce,” Chamber President CEO Kirk Mancer said. “We need to make sure the potential future workforce in Shelby County knows what employers are looking for, and I feel like it’s very important that the voice of business is heard.”

Other topics that surfaced at each table included money management, soft skills development, volunteerism and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to learn and grow.

SCS Career Coach LaJuana Hamer said the program is also designed to give student participants information they can then relay to their peers in different campus groups in which they are involved.