Jennifer Berrier, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) secretary, recently toured the River Valley STEAM Academy.
The academy opened in August. Its workforce development education model offers students an electrical occupations program; an esports course and lab affiliated with the North America Scholastic Esports Federation; a multi-tiered cybersecurity course offering industry certifications; and sports medicine and rehabilitative therapy program training students to be athletic trainers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and more.
“With unemployment at historic lows in Pennsylvania, the tight labor market means that workers have options – which is a wonderful thing,” Berrier said. “It also means that some employers are struggling to find skilled workers for some of the most in-demand jobs. That’s why investment in Pennsylvania’s workforce is so important to our collective future. I applaud the River Valley School District for giving students the opportunity to explore careers and build job skills that are immediately relevant to the workforce needs of today and tomorrow. Pennsylvania as a whole will benefit from the innovative education offered at River Valley’s STEAM Academy.”
River Valley School District has partnered with post-secondary institutions to offer college in high school courses to students.
Berrier also participated in a panel discussion about workforce development education.