Workforce/technical training offered in Lee County by HCTC
Seated, from left, are HCTC President Dr. Jennifer Lindon; Williams Owens, Lee County
School Board chair; Craig Herald, Lee County Area Technology Center principal; and
Dr. James Evans, Lee County Schools Superintendent. Standing, from left, are State
Representative Cluster Howard; State Senator Robert Stivers II; and Hal Heiner, Kentucky
Education and Workforce Cabinet Secretary.
Increased workforce/technical training will now be available in the Lee County area
beginning Sept. 12 following an agreement signed Wednesday, July 27 among Hazard Community
and Technical College, the Lee County Board of Education, and the Lee County Area
Technology Center. The signing event in Beattyville included the praise of Secretary
Hal Heiner, Ky. Education and Workforce Cabinet, because of the classes to be offered
in Automotive Technology and Construction Technology.
HCTC President Dr. Jennifer Lindon said service to the adult population in the region was very important. High school students currently take classes during the day at the Lee County Area Technology Center and this agreement allows for adults to have training in the evenings. We are very committed to serving Lee, Wolfe, and Owsley counties, Dr. Lindon said.
Career and technical education are the hot topics. This is a great idea to see implemented throughout the state, noted Secretary Heiner. You are leading the Commonwealth of Kentucky with this initiative, he told the crowd during the signing ceremony.
Dr. Jim Evans, Lee County Schools superintendent, said he and other superintendents
were all committed to working together and he was very pleased with the progress made
so far. The Lee County Board of Education chair William Owens said the agreement was
going to help the communities. He said his Dad used to say, If you will work hard,
be honest, you will succeed. He said this agreement opens possibilities for more
people to do as his father envisioned.
State Senator Robert Stivers II called it a good day for the future of the region
and he was glad to see schools cooperating and making a difference.
Craig Herald, Lee County Area Technology Center principal, and Cluster Howard, State
Representative, spoke about how vitally important technical education is for the future
of the region. Representative Howard told the crowd how the Intergenerational Center
planned for Jackson at HCTC s Lees College Campus is aligned to the focus on technical
education and the possibilities that creates for the area.