Tag: Apprenticeship

Alaska ACTE Honors Excellence in Career and Technical Education

AlaskaACTEThe Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education celebrated 13 outstanding Alaskan educators, workforce development champions, and business and community leaders with awards at their October 2018 state conference in Anchorage.

  1. Outstanding CTE Teacher of the Year: Chris Taylor, Mat-Su Career Tech High School, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
  1. Outstanding NEW CTE Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Alaska Business Education Compact: Vanessa Forbes, King Tech High School, Anchorage School District
  1. Business/Information Technology Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Alaska Business Week: Ken Werner, Alaska Vocational Technical Education Center
  1. Industrial/Technology Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Construction Industry Progress Fund: Peter Daley, Hutchison High School, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
  1. Health Sciences Teacher of the Year: Kelly Woolcott, Mat-Su Career Tech High School, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
  1. Hospitality/Tourism Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Alaska CHARR: Melinda Dooley, Service High School, Anchorage School District
  1. STEM Teacher of the Year, sponsored by Alaska Resource Education: John Notestine, Wasilla High School, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
  1. CTE Administrator of the Year: Jon Clouse, Southwest Region School District
  1. Promising Practices Award, sponsored by Andrews Auctions, Appraisals and Professional Services: Christel Mozaelevskiy, Redington High School, Educators Rising Program, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
  1. Leadership Award, sponsored by LeCompte Consulting: Marcia Olson, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  1. Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium: Fred Villa, Workforce Development, University of Alaska
  1. Community Contribution Award: John Plutt, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 375, Fairbanks
  1. Community Contribution Award: Gloria Burnett, Alaska Center for Rural Health and Health Workforce/Alaska Health Education Consortium

Source: Alaska Association for Career and Technical Education

U.S. Department of Labor Awards Alaska $3.35M to Prepare Alaskans for Work in High-Growth Industries

JUNEAU, Alaska — The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $3.35 million dollars to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development in Trade and Economic Transition Dislocated Worker Grants. This two-year funding will expand the capacity of dislocated worker training and employment programs that prepare Alaskans for occupations in the state’s fastest growing sectors: health care, construction, and maritime industries.

“It is critical that we invest in Alaskans who seek training to be first in line for these high-paying jobs on major projects, such as the Alaska LNG Gasline,” said Alaska Governor Bill Walker. “This funding will assist as we grow our own skilled workforce to fill essential occupations; from welders and pipefitters, operating engineers, to truck drivers, laborers, electricians and mechanics.”

Dislocated Worker Grants support state, tribal, and non-profit entities that implement innovative skills training and career services for people seeking reemployment as the economy and corresponding workforce needs change. Alaska’s aging workforce will increase demand for qualified workers across all sectors, in addition to the growing number of jobs in health care, construction, and maritime industries. This funding will boost existing training and support services provided by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Job Center Network.

“This funding supports our steadfast commitment to Alaska Hire and a robust, skilled workforce,” said Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas. “It is critical that Alaskans who need to transition careers are ready to go to work in these high demand occupations, and the Department is eager to assist in that process.”

Grant funds will be available through the job centers for dislocated workers and will come in diverse forms, including:

  • Enhanced career services, support services and work-based learning opportunities
  • Training programs that lead to industry recognized credentials and employment
  • Quality pre-apprenticeship opportunities in health care and construction industry occupations
  • Support for those newly entering Registered Apprenticeships
  • Direct employment referral

For more information: Shawna Harper, Assistant Director of Workforce Development, Division of Employment and Training Services: 907-465-1882, Shawna.Harper@alaska.gov.

Source: State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

DOL Announces High School Apprenticeship Toolkit

National Apprenticeship Week is a national celebration on November 12-18, 2018, that offers leaders in business, labor, education, and other critical partners a chance to express their support for apprenticeship.

DOL is excited to release its first High School Apprenticeship Toolkit. This webpage contains a wealth of resources for secondary and postsecondary institutions, workforce development practitioners, school counselors, teachers, parents, and more.

https://www.dol.gov/apprenticeship/high-school/

The toolkit includes:

  • Fact Sheet on High School Apprenticeship
  • Implementation Guide
  • Case Studies on Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program and the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program
  • Resources for practitioners and other stakeholders

Source: US Dept. of Labor

Alaska Workforce Investment Board Endorses Gasline Workforce Plan

AKLNGPlansJUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) unanimously approved a resolution in support of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Alaska LNG Project Gasline Workforce Plan. The Alaska LNG project will create thousands of jobs, and the department’s workforce plan aims to align existing resources and identify opportunities to build training capacity to maximize Alaska hire on the gasline.

The Alaska LNG project, led by the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, will move 20 million tons of natural gas each year from Alaska’s North Slope to tidewater, where it will be liquefied and shipped by sea to Asian markets. Offtake points along the 807-mile pipeline will ensure Alaskans have access to natural gas for in-state use before it is sold to other markets. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2019, with gas delivered by 2024-2025.

“Construction and operation of the gasline will create up to 20,000 jobs and Alaskans should be first in line for these opportunities,” said Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas. “This workforce development plan will guide efforts to ensure Alaskans can gain the skills and experience they need to build the Alaska LNG project.”

“The Alaska Workforce Investment Board works to connect Alaskans with good jobs,” said AWIB Chair Larry Bell. “We strongly endorse this workforce plan and look forward to working with other stakeholders to prioritize Alaska hire on the gasline.”

The department held public meetings in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Kenai to solicit input for the gasline workforce plan. The plan calls for the formation of a leadership committee to draw from the expertise of business and industry, organized labor, educators, and training organizations. The committee will include representatives from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the University of Alaska, the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, the Department of Education and Early Development, and the AWIB. The leadership committee will develop policy and resource recommendations to prioritize education and training for the in demand occupations associated with the Alaska LNG project.

View the original press release at http://labor.alaska.gov/news/2018/news18-17.pdf

Workforce Wednesday: Construction Apprenticeships


This week on Workforce Wednesday, a look at the four apprenticeships available in the field of construction, and how you can get started.

The four types of apprenticeships we are looking at this week include carpentry, millwright work, scaffold building, and pile driving.

An entry-level apprenticeship can net around a base pay of $23 an hour. That includes $10 an hour into retirement and about $10 an hour for health benefits. Those amounts increase as you advance within the program.

Requirements for starting an apprenticeship include being over 18 years of age, having a high school diploma or equivalent, having a valid driver’s license, being an Alaskan resident and passing a drug test.

Applicants are being accepted through January of 2018 to start work in May and April.

Source: KTVA Workforce Wednesday: Construction apprenticeships