By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Students and instructors at the Shelby County Career Technical Educational Center gave visitors on Feb. 12 an up-close look at the center’s programs for high school juniors and seniors.

The Shelby County Chamber’s first Industry Tour of 2019 at CTEC allowed local professionals and community stakeholders to visit the 11 programs on campus: Automotive Technology, Biomedical Science, Collision Repair, Construction, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Healthcare Science, Plumbing, Public Service, Robotics and Manufacturing and Welding.

“We have some tremendous programs,” CTEC Principal Zachary McWhorter said. “We operate on a simulated workplace system. Students have to clock in and clock out, and they’re graded on work ethic every week. I can’t emphasize enough how proud I am each day of our students. We have an amazing facility, too.”

Shelby County has 64 career tech teachers, according to Julie Godfrey, Shelby County Schools Supervisor of Career Tech Education, College and Career Planning and Community Partnerships.

The tour served as a way to build closer connections between the business community and the education community in Shelby County, Chamber Business Development and Support Director Jackson Pruett said.

“We do want to make those connections and create more opportunities for you and our kids,” Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks said. “We are proud of our kids and feel like we’re doing some of the right things to prepare our kids for those opportunities.”