Career Tech: Training tomorrow’s future

By Holli Keaton (Contact) | Troy Messenger

Published Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Troy-Pike Center for Technology has been a joint effort of the city and county schools for years.

But, with a new face behind the school, its mission may soon enhance the systems’ efforts.

At least that’s what Julie Simmons, new director of the technology center, hopes will happen.

“We’re trying to change to perception from the old vo-tech to truly the center for technology,” Simmons said. “Career tech has moved forward, and our mission is about training workforce for technology.”

Simmons was hired by the Pike County and Troy City Schools System as the new principal before the start of school year, and though she’s not a Troy native said she’s feeling right at home.

Simmons comes to Troy with 24 years of career tech experience, working in Houston County and Montgomery Public Schools. She came from the Montgomery Public Schools Central Office before moving here.

“There was a career tech opening, and I was very interested in becoming a career tech person,” Simmons said. “I was in career tech, but I wanted to be a career tech director.”

Simmons also said the move was a chance to be closer to her family, who lives in the Dothan area.

One of Simmons’ focuses for the school year is to work with the local community to enhance program possibilities.

“We’ve already started working with the economic development office to make sure our program fits the needs of the Troy-Pike County area’s workforce,” Simmons said. “Really, that’s what career tech is about—training the workforce of tomorrow.”

And, between the programs already in place and those added just this year, Simmons said she believes the school curriculum has just what’s needed to train students to head to college or even straight to the work force after high school.

This year, a new engineering program, Project Lead the Way, was added to train students interested in wanting to become engineers.

The school also has added a welding, building and construction and networking/IT support courses.

Simmons said her goal for the year is to continue to grow and expand these new and existing programs, as well as student enrollment.

Students take courses at the career center on a voluntary basis from the local high schools for elective credits.

In addition, some of courses count for college credit.

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