IALR December 2023 Newsletter

IALR employee Amanda Hylton was recently elected to the National Haas Technical Educators Community Council, which promotes and advances manufacturing productivity through excellence in manufacturing education. Focusing on grant development, Hylton will support the solicitation and selection of workshops and sessions for conferences that will help educators understand the funding opportunities to further their programs.

Hylton is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives within IALR’s Manufacturing Advancement division.

“With the rapidly changing landscape of manufacturing, the constraints of tight budgets make it difficult for educators to integrate new and emerging technologies into training. I have a strong desire to help and support educators in learning how to ‘dream big’ and find ways to strengthen partnerships that help make those dreams a reality. I hope that by being elected to serve this year, I can find ways to share my passion for helping others learn how to be successful in securing support and funding for their programs.” – Amanda Hylton, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, IALR

HTEC hosts an annual national conference, as well as numerous regional conferences throughout the country. Hylton was a part of the planning team that hosted the Annual Conference in Danville in 2018, and presented a session on finding, writing and winning grants during that conference.

IALR shares a rich history of collaboration with HTEC. IALR’s Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining is one of four Gene Haas Foundation Teacher Training program sites in the country. Through a partnership with HTEC and Danville Community College, the center trains high school and community college instructors for the growing field of precision machining and provides certification opportunities for instructors, veterans, incumbent workers and adult learners. The Center also houses the Integrated Machining Technology (IMT) program, which helps those who have completed a two-year precision machining program take their advanced machining skills and knowledge to the next level.

Angela Rigney, Director of Career & Technical Education with Pittsylvania County Schools, was also elected to the council this year, focusing on middle school manufacturing education.