Elsbrock to highlight Area 30 at conference

Thursday, February 17, 2022
Laura Elsbrock

The collaborative spirit that makes Area 30 Career Center a possibility will soon be highlighted for educators from across the nation.

At its most recent meeting, the Area 30 Board of Directors approved sending Adult Education Program Coordinator Laura Elsbrock to speak at the Adult Education National Conference, which is slated for April in Seattle.

Presenting under the title “Small Rural Programs Collaborate and Leverage Technology to Maximize Student Academic and Workforce Training Options,” Elsbrock will speak on the ways that small, rural programs have collaborated to develop integrated education and training and workforce education initiatives tailored to the workforce needs of the local communities.

By leveraging technology and simplifying time-consuming processes, the program has developed strong employer relationships and employment outcomes for adult students, who achieve national certification through their courses.

Programs highlighted during Elsbrock’s discussion will include MIG welding, CNC operator, Class B CDL truck driver, Class B CDL bus driver, certified logistics associate, certified logistics technician and paraprofessional teaching assistant.

Additionally, Elsbrock will assist with another presentation by Amy and Neil Richmond, who have given Area 30 free access to their new online program that tracks student progress and workforce success stories.

The board, which is composed of the superintendents of Cloverdale, Greencastle, North Putnam, South Putnam and Eminence schools, unanimously approved the expenditure to send Elsbrock to the conference.

The board also unanimously approved sending Charles Inman to a the March Law Enforcement Trainers Conference and Expo in St. Louis.

The Greencastle Police Department, where Inman is employed as a captain, will pay for the event registration, while Area 30 agreed to pay for hotel accommodations.

Area 30 Assistant Director Chad Nunley, acting in place of Director Lora Busch who is off work from an injury, gave a brief report at the end of the short meeting.

Nunley said that the career center continued to have zero students on quarantine from COVID-19.

He also noted that Area 30 staff and student ambassadors had welcomed 65 potential students to a Jan. 25 open house.

Finally, he said February is Career and Technical Education Month, noting that a number of activities student-led were planned throughout the month.

Joining Nunley in person at the meeting were superintendents Nicole Allee of North Putnam, Greg Linton of Cloverdale, Corey Smith of South Putnam and Wesley Hammond of Eminence, along with Treasurer Cindy Burnham.

Busch and Greencastle Superintendent Jeff Gibboney both joined the meeting virtually.

The next meeting of the Area 30 Board is set for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8.

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