A pathway became a four-lane highway when Toyota USA Foundation in conjunction with Project Lead The Way, announced five Jackson-Madison County middle schools would share in grants totaling $100,000 to prepare students for high-demanding jobs.
Elected officials and educators were in attendance when the announcement was made at Toyota Bodine’s Jackson facility near Airport Industrial Park, Thursday.
“I was here when we broke ground 15 years ago,” said Bob Lloyd, president of Toyota Bodine in Jackson, “But today, we looking to our future, because our products are only as good as the people who make them, and our industry is advancing rapidly.”
Lloyd, who is also president of two Toyota Bodine facilities in Missouri, said the future of both Tennessee and Toyota rests in the hands of today’s students.
“That’s why we partnered locally with Jackson State Community College to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Technician program where students earn an associates degree while getting paid to work in a manufacturing plant, and it’s also why we’re a Partner in Education with Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School, which has a specialized manufacturing tract,” Lloyd said. “And, it’s why we’re here (Thursday), with the Toyota USA Foundation, to announce a $100,000 grant to launch the nationally recognized STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program.
“Middle school is a crucial transitional time for youth to gain confidence in science, technology, engineering and math subjects. Our aim with Project Lead The Way is to join existing efforts to create a comprehensive STEM pathway that leads to jobs.”
The five middle schools participating are North Parkway, Northeast, Jackson Career and Technology, West Bemis and Rose Hill.
Dr. Eric Jones, superintendent of Jackson-Madison County Schools, said he was familiar with the program when he was a principal of a high school in Huntsville, Alabama.
“This is an opportunity that cannot be understated,” Jones said. “This is an opportunity that opens doors for our students. The PLTW program will build on our efforts to offer students additional options and opportunities for their futures.”
Elliot Mork, vice president of Partnerships – PLTW – in Indianapolis, discussed how the middle schools in Jackson were selected.
“We hosted a competitive grant process this past fall, and schools were eligible within a 50- mile radius of a Toyota location throughout the nation – all the vehicle unit plants,” Mork said. “Jackson being one of those, had eligibility this past fall.
“It was a competitive grant too – competitive in the sense that its value is based on readiness – if the school district is ready to implement, whether they have the buy-in, administration and leadership to actually implement the program.”
Shawn Daly, general manager and plant manager at Toyota Bodine Jackson, applauded the investment Toyota USA Foundation was making in Project Lead The Way.
“We are very thrilled with this curriculum,” Daly said. “The opportunity to give students hands on learning in the areas of engineering, computer programming, computer science and biomedical sciences is an exciting opportunity for our kids. It prepares them for promising careers for advanced technology and STEM technology.”
(PHOTO: Shawn Daly, Elliot Mork, Bob Lloyd and Eric Jones)
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