Career and Technical Education (CTE)

S.O.A.R (Student Opportunities for Apprenticeship Readiness)

In May 2023, Guilford County Schools (GCS), Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department established a registered pre-apprenticeship program with the state of North Carolina through courageous partnership with ApprenticeshipNC. The program is called Student Opportunities for Apprenticeship Readiness (S.O.A.R.). Pre-apprenticeship, also known as Youth Apprenticeship, is a program or set of strategies designed to prepare individuals to enter and success in a Registered Apprenticeship Program
(RAP); & is the best pathway to a RAP. The uniqueness of the GCS CTE S.O.A.R. program is student apprentices are completing CTE career pathways with industry standards curriculum in the aligned apprenticeable occupation, participating in a hands-on Level I & Level II (+) course sequence, inclusive of opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials & engage in relevant work-based learning, & gaining direct entry into a RAP upon successful completion of the pre-apprenticeship program. In its inaugural, S.O.A.R. has three registered occupations:

• Diesel Mechanic 
• Electrician/Maintenance
• Medical Assistant 

Employers benefit from apprenticeship programs by having a skilled workforce, improving productivity, reducing turnover, customizing training, retaining workers, & fostering workplace diversity. Amid the complex workplace challenges, with a current skills gap, having a proven strategy for recruiting, training, & retaining skilled talent is so critical. Registered apprenticeship programs are proven solutions to meeting occupational needs. S.O.A.R. looks to continue spreading its wings! 

Maegan Wycoff, senior at Weaver Academy is SOAR's first-registered pre-apprentice. Maegan successfully completed the pre-apprenticeship program in the Diesel Technology career pathway. Dr. Holly Pore, Executive Director of CTE was joined by Tiffany Jacobs, ApprentishipNC Regional Coordinator, & Chris Martinez, Senior Recruiter with Best Logistics Group to present Maegan with a certificate of completion, & later with Apprenticeship NC graduation cords, at this year's Senior Awards ceremony held in Weaver Academy's auditorium. Recently, Maegan was hired, & accepted, a Diesel Technician job at Transource Trucks.