power up! policy partnerships preparing florida’s students for tomorrow’s economy carol higley...

POWER UP!Policy Partnerships

Preparing Florida’s Students for Tomorrow’s Economy

Carol HigleyJEA

Florida Energy Workforce Consortium

Florida Energy Workforce Consortium• Formed in 2006 to develop solutions to meet the

current and future workforce needs of Florida’s energy industry

• Comprised of energy industry, construction, labor, preK – 12 and post-secondary education, and workforce representatives

• Compete for a talent puddle or work together to build a talent pool?

FEWC Committee Structure• PARTNER and COLLABORATE!• Work locally, regionally, at state, and at

national levels to brand our industry careers and create talent pipeline programs

• Focus on key areas:– State & National Outreach– Policy & Education– Funding & Resources– Career Awareness

Policy and Education Committee• Collaborate with education and industry

associates on new ways to attract, recruit and train future energy workers preparing a more qualified candidate for placement

• Ability to influence future policies & legislation affecting current and future energy workforce

Policy and Education Successes• Committee includes Utility and Education representation • Best practice visits to existing educational programs in Energy• Direct industry input on the CAPE “certification list” used by the

Florida Department of Education (DOE)• Partnership with Florida Department of Education to integrate

utility concepts into science and math curricula• Connected with thousands of students at the Florida SkillsUSA

Competition & Florida State Science Fair over multiple years• Published articles in industry and education publications• Presented at key industry and education conferences

AND…

17th Career Cluster

ENERGY

1st in the Nation!!

The Four “E” Process for Success…• Educate

– Connect with the right people– FDOE Energy Cluster Working Group (FEWC Industry)– Speak out regarding needs & goals of industry

• Embrace– Brainstorm together; inspire others

• Engage– Truly partner; meet with leadership; attend present

conferences/events/working sessions• Excite

– Communicate opportunities & celebrate successes!!

Policy and Education• Partnered with FDOE to develop energy curriculum

framework for five (5) courses: – Energy Foundations– Introduction to Alternative Energy– Power Generation Technician– Power Distribution Technician– Solar Energy Technician(NCCER to develop materials for four Florida targeted courses)

• CEWD Energy Fundamentals– National model for Tier 4 and 5 of Energy Competency Model

(Partnering with CEWD using CORD for development of the Energy Foundations/Fundamentals course materials)

www.CareerOneStop.org/CompetencyModel

Policy and Education• Develop curriculum materials for Energy Courses• Creation of Florida Energy Teachers Network – will add teacher

“toolkit” to Get Into Energy Florida web site – Complete and publish compilation of readily available

resources for K-12 teachers to use to integrate energy concepts into the math, science and reading curriculums

– Develop incentive program for educators to use the new curriculum frameworks and materials

– Develop a FEWC teacher externship program for CTE, Science and Math teachers

• Replicate energy career academies

Energy Career Academies• Total of 22 in Florida, including Gulf Power Academy at

West Florida High School in Pensacola (2001)• Many utilize NCCER Electrical curriculum, resulting in

industry-recognized and valued credentials• Most offer articulation, energy industry pre-

employment testing, and local energy company engagement

• Will pilot the new energy courses at Gulf Power Academy and Lakeland Electric Power Academy in August 2011

Careers in Energy Week

I, Charlie Crist, Governor of the State of Florida, do hereby extend greetings and best wishes to all observing October 18 – 22, 2010 as CAREERS IN ENERGY WEEK.

Careers in Energy Week – Essay Contest

Communicate Florida Energy Careers

Supports Industry’s Need For…

• A qualified, diverse workforce – for us and our contractors

• Various career entry points with various educational attainments

• Pipeline of students• Core values

Carol Higley

higlca@jea.com

www.fewc.org

www.getintoenergyflorida.com