The Marion County school district has methodically planned, with area business input, a vocational and technical education vision that it is now flourishing. They launched a CDL program last year. The district and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP), which have been working together to boost vocational and technical programs, each won separate statewide awards recently. This year, the district launched academies in Robotics at Belleview High School, Elementary Education at Vanguard High School and Information Technology at North Marion High. In 2019, the final two academies, Energy Power at Dunnellon High School and an entrepreneurial academy at Forest High School, will be added. How can we mirror programs like this throughout the state?  What are other counties doing to address the vocational education/skills trade gap?  We’ll explore what Florida is doing well in this area and how we can improve.

Guests:

  • Dr. Heidi Maier, Superintendent, Marion County Public Schools
  • Dr. Valerie Viands, Director, Manatee Technical College
  • State Sen. Travis Hutson (R), District 7, Palm Coast