Micheal Hale, Barren County judge executive, speaks to Barren County Middle School eighth grade students during an assembly inside the Trojan Academy gymnasium on Friday, March 25, 2022.
(LUKE PIERCE/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW — Barren County Schools’ staff spent last week speaking to its students about workplace ethics and tips to become “Life-Ready.” Barren County Judge executive Micheal Hale partnered with the district during the presentations.
Barren County Schools’ Work Ready Certification program teaches students six characteristics to become career ready right out of high school. Among those are teamwork and accountability.
The judge executive echoed some of those characteristics to students. He spoke about the importance of communication, being on time and how to be leaders. He also instructed the students on how to properly shake hands and how to tie a necktie.
Hale said the key to the presentation is to get the students into higher education or into the work force by learning a skill while still in high school.
“The key is to get these folks [in] whether it’s higher education or into the workforce. And that’s what I focus on the most is getting them into the workforce,” Hale said. “That way they have a skill that they can learn at the school systems. What we also challenge the employer [is] if you need people, we got people, putting them [the students] straight to work.”
Sixth and eighth grade students attended the presentation last week. District personnel spoke to the students about the Profile of a Trojan, which details the six characteristics of the Work Ethic Certification as well as the more than 40 pathways offered to high school students.
CheyAnne Fant, Director of Nutrition Services and Afterschool Programs for the school district, said several businesses support the Work Ethic Certification program. Many were helping last week.
“We had over seventy industries leaders from across this county and region who promoted and supported work ethic certification,” Fant.
Twelfth grade students will soon have the opportunity to participate in mock interviews and to win scholarships through the program as well as receive a work ethic certification certificate.
Work Ethics applications are due April 22, 2022. Click here to access the application.
