Page 6 - Dresden Buzz 07-14-23

PAGE 6 | LOCAL NEWS JULY 14 - 27, 2023

Fireman’s Festival held in New College Tech Prep at
Concord attracted large turnout Zane State College

Focuses on Manufacturing Partnerships with Career
Technical Education

(from left) Crooksville High School Science Teacher William Sheets with Zane State’s Tech
Prep Coordinator Tara Adornetto and Crooksville High School Dean of Instruction Mary Ann
Headley. Submitted
Zane State College has partnered and showcasing the potential to our
with Ohio College Tech Prep to build students is critical. FlexFactor aims to
and foster relationships between edu- achieve workforce development in this
cation and community businesses in sector by engaging young people with
the region. Tech Prep Coordinator Tara the full range of opportunities in ad-
Adornetto spearheads this effort. As a vanced manufacturing and technology
Zane State Enrollment Services depart- sectors. Through strategic partnerships
ment team member, she collaborates between academic and manufacturing
with high schools and career centers to stakeholders, the program provides
build pathways to a technical degree or students with experiences and knowl-
The Fireman’s Festival located in New Concord took place on July 8. The event was packed career. edge to understand what a career in
with stands selling various items, including homemade ice cream sold by the Boy Scouts, and
a popcorn stand run by the Creative Farm Kids 4-H. In addition, a lively parade rolled down the advanced manufacturing looks like.
streets, promoting local clubs and businesses. The festival had a great turnout, and fun was Education and Business Partner- The program also helps identify path-
had by all. Lynette Dotson ships in the Southeast Region ways for students leading into the field.
The program is designed to work
Of the 25 counties in the Southeast within existing classroom structures
A gallery of photos is available online at DresdenBuzz.com Region, Adornetto is responsible for and absorb subject learning objectives.
schools and technical centers in Co- When layered over an English class, the
shocton, Muskingum, Noble, Guernsey, program can be used to study rhetoric,
Perry, and Morgan. messaging, and oral presentation. The
“My role extends beyond educating program can be used in environmental
students about career opportunities. science classes to learn how advanced
It’s about the pathways to these oppor- technologies address environmental
tunities and saving students thousands challenges. Robotics classes can ex-
of dollars by strategically aligning their pand the program for additional weeks
high school credits with college credits. and use the extra time to build proto-
I take pride in my work because I see types of their products. These are just
my impact on their lives and families,” a few examples of how FlexFactor is
Adornetto said. tailored to work in different classroom
The Tech Prep process relies on settings. Either virtual or in person, the
collaboration and connections with lo- multi-week immersion program pro-
cal industry to successfully connect stu- vides a transformational experience
dents with businesses. Strong relations that helps students visualize their fu-
NEED A NEW are formed through business advisory tures, identify the educational path-
councils, roundtable discussions, net-
ways to make that future a reality, and
WEBSITE? working opportunities, and workshops. gain the confidence to take the neces-
Industry engagement is critical to pro- sary steps along that journey.
Currently, in the Southeast Region
We can help. viding relevant advice to area students. of Tech Prep, the following colleges
As Ashley Labacki, Business Develop-
ment Liaison for IBEW Local 1105, have access to the program to imple-
said, “I am constantly amazed at how ment within any schools interested:
connections work together to achieve Belmont College, Eastern Gateway
great results.” Community College, Hocking College,
Rio Grande Community College, Shaw-
The Flexibility of FlexFactor: nee State University, Washington State
Students Visualizing their Futures Community College, and Zane State
in the STEM Field College. A Tech Prep Coordinator for
each of these Colleges is setting up
FlexFactor is designed to educate FlexFactor within their counties.
middle and high school students about If you have questions or to discuss
the world of advanced manufacturing this further, please contact Zane State
technology and entrepreneurship. “We College at 740.588.5000.
divide students into teams of three or
five and challenge them to work togeth- About Tara Adornetto: As a proud Alumni
er to identify a real-world problem that of Zane State College, Tara Adornetto has
Also offering print marketing holds value, can be conceptualized us- been with Zane State College for 12 years,
and design services. ing an advanced hardware device, de- with her most recent role as Tech Prep Co-
CALL 740.565.4900 velop a business model/plan, and then ordinator. Growing up, Tara’s father worked
at the Ohio Ferro Alloy Plant, giving her first-
pitch it “Shark Tank” style to a panel

manufacturing. FlexFactor has helped her
or send an email to of education and industry representa- hand experience about the importance of
lynette@dotsondesignstudio.com tives. This can be done over five weeks reconnect with this industry and show stu-
in the classroom, or we can modify it to
dents to the dynamics of the manufactur-
a One Day Sprint,” Adornetto explained. ing workforce. In her free time, you can find
There is a surge of career oppor- Tara traveling with her husband or visiting
DotsonDesignStudio.com | 620 Main Street, Dresden tunities in advanced manufacturing, her daughters Ava and Lili.