Two grant awards from GO Virginia totaling more than $900,000 are enabling the expansion of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program into eight new middle schools across Southern and Southwest Virginia. Including these schools, all of which are slated to launch during the 2024-2025 academic year, GO TEC Career Connections Labs will be in 52 Virginia middle schools across 38 divisions.
“We are incredibly excited to see the continued growth of GO TEC, especially as it reaches new regions and schools. This GO Virginia funding allows us to introduce even more students to the vast opportunities available in STEM-focused career fields. Early exposure helps build a strong talent pipeline that directly supports the workforce needs of our region and beyond.” – Dr. Julie Brown, Vice President, Advanced Learning, IALR
A collaborative talent pathway model that begins in middle school and continues through high school, dual-enrollment and postsecondary programs, GO TEC introduces Virginia middle school students to emerging, STEM-focused career fields through hands-on Career Connections Labs. These labs are equipped with welding simulators, 3D printers, desktop milling machines, laser cutters, small robots and much more. The goal is to expose students as early as middle school to career opportunities in strategic sectors like manufacturing engineering, automation and robotics, welding and precision machining.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) serves as the fiscal agent and program lead for GO TEC, which is supported and guided by partners that include K12 school systems, higher education, industry and economic development. Three in-region coordinating entities (IRCEs) serve as regional liaisons and coordinators for the GO TEC program in Southwest Virginia, Central Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Virginia’s initiative for growth and opportunity in each region, GO Virginia is an economic development initiative and one of the primary funders of GO TEC, having provided approximately $9 million in funding to date. Administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, GO Virginia supports programs like GO TEC that create more high-paying jobs through incentivized collaboration between business, education and government.
Southern Virginia
One grant of $302,690 (along with matching funds from the participating school districts) was awarded to IALR, the primary administrator of the GO TEC program, to install Career Connections Labs in the following schools:
- James S. Russel Middle School, Brunswick County Public Schools
- Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, Henry County Public Schools
“We are thankful that this GO Virginia investment will allow us to continue installing the GO TEC curriculum and equipment into additional middle schools in Southern Virginia. This program provides hands-on STEM experiences that prepare students for future careers and support our region’s workforce needs.” – Angela Rigney, GO TEC Director, IALR
This will be the first GO TEC Career Connections Lab for Brunswick County and the second for Henry County.
After starting as a pilot program in Danville Public Schools and Pittsylvania County Schools, GO TEC has reached almost full locality saturation across the 15-locality GO Virginia Region 3. Pittsylvania County has deployed the GO TEC program in all four middle schools, the City of Danville and Henry County will each establish GO TEC in two middle schools, and almost all the remaining cities and counties will each have the program in one school.
Southwest Virginia
Another GO Virginia grant for the expansion of the GO TEC program was awarded to Endless Opportunity (EO), which functions as the IRCE for the GO TEC program in GO Virginia Region 1. This $600,055 grant (along with matching funds from the participating school districts) will allow for the installation of GO TEC Career Connections Labs in the following schools:
- Marion Middle School, Smyth County Public Schools
- E.B. Stanley Middle School, Washington County Public Schools
- Scott Memorial Middle School, Wythe County Public Schools
- Bland County Middle School, Bland County Public School
- Graham Middle School, Tazewell County Public Schools
“EO partners with IALR on the GO TEC program to strengthen Southwest Virginia’s workforce pipeline, drive innovation and contribute to a thriving local economy. We are thrilled that the GO TEC curriculum is matriculating across Southwest Virginia, introducing our students to careers they can be excited about.” — Travis Staton, President & CEO, EO
These divisions are adding their first GO TEC Career Connections Lab: Tazwell County Public Schools and Bland County Public Schools. GO TEC will now be in two middle schools in Smyth County Schools and Washington County Public Schools.
With the addition of Scott Memorial School, GO TEC is now in all three middle schools in Wythe County.
“The GO TEC programs in each of our three middle schools are invaluable in providing students with hands-on STEM education, particularly in the fields of manufacturing and healthcare. Students are highly engaged and eager to participate, looking forward to this class every day. By offering real-world experiences and a glimpse into future career paths in our own community, GO TEC plays a vital role in preparing our students for the many opportunities that await them in high school and beyond.” – Becki C. James, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Wythe County Public Schools
About GO TEC
The primary goal of the GO TEC program is to let students experience in-demand and growing manufacturing and engineering career fields with applied learning. Each of the modules includes technology-driven, industry-relevant hands-on learning that grows students’ awareness of available and emerging careers in the following areas:
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Automation & Robotics
- Welding
- Precision Machining
- Healthcare Technologies
- IT Coding & Networking
- Metrology
The GO TEC Career Connections program curriculum is both flexible and scalable to meet the workforce and economic development needs of participating GO Virginia regions. Each module’s content and equipment (ranging from virtual reality welding simulators to 4-axis robotic arms) are standardized, ensuring that students across the commonwealth receive the best instruction.
Virginia school divisions interested in learning more about and implementing the GO TEC program and middle school curriculum should contact Angela Rigney, the GO TEC Director.
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg, and the cities of Martinsville and Danville. IALR serves as the fiscal agent and program lead for GO TEC, which aligns with IALR’s focus on connecting students to careers and increasing STEM capacity.
