A division of the Jackson County 21st Century Council
IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY
The first annual CEO EXPO was held in 2011 at Earnest Pruett Center of Technology (EPCOT). Over 600 ninth graders from every school in Jackson County participated. Exhibitors and instructors from the EPCOT classes, as well as several private companies and TVA, set up informational and hands-on activities for the students. After witnessing the success of this hands-on career fair, we believe it is essential that we continue to offer this opportunity to the youth in Jackson County. However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic we have missed a couple of years. We are happy to announce that the next CEO EXPO is planned for Wednesday, October 25, 2023. More information will be released.
Business and industry leaders, workforce development and career representatives, along with school representatives are collaborating and partnering to make this event crucial to influencing the workforce of tomorrow by educating students today on the vast availability of careers in our Northeast Alabama region. The purpose of the Expo is to create awareness about career options among students and educators as well as help give our businesses and industries the skilled workforce needed to sustain and grow. This program is one of the steps in an organized plan of selecting a career and beginning career preparation. We are confident you will agree when you see the program for yourself.
Job Fairs
IMPACT Learning Center partners with Jackson County Economic Development Authority, Northeast Alabama Community College, Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County School System, Scottsboro City School System to provide local job opportunities for graduating seniors and individuals seeking employment or career change. This event also helps to meet business and industry employment needs. IMPACT Learning Center assists with two to three local job fairs throughout the year as well as local industry job fairs as needed for specific times of demand of orders/production.
Grants and Training for Educators
IMPACT Learning Center has offered grants to educators to help fund special projects. Some of these have included: purchasing microscopes, computers and zSpace equipment; funding class kits for learning and on-line reading programs; teacher training and professional development workshops. A committee of IMPACT board members and staff review applications and recommend approval of available funds to projects that will reach the greatest number of students. These grant opportunities are usually available each school semester and schools must agree to help with part of the total funding. IMPACT partners with both Scottsboro City and Jackson County schools to enhance education in our area.
IMPACT Learning Center has awarded Stevenson Elementary School with a $2,000 donation for use in their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) lab. The money will be used to add materials to the lab to help teacher Tim Wilkinson and his students. He hopes to have materials to use with all of the k-4 students and is excited about STEM education. At the check presentation were, from left, Teresa Walker, Carolyn Deerman, Wilkinson, Stevenson Elementary Principal Cody Brown, Karen Screws and Cathy Mitchell, IMPACT director.
From The Jackson County Sentinel - Photo | Peggy M. HImburg
Liberty Learning
IMPACT Learning Center helps to sponsor the Liberty Learning Super Citizen Program brought to our schools. This dynamic program provides teacher training and all needed materials for a 10 week patriotic study. The cost is about $40 a student. See the video about this exciting project. If you would like to join in our efforts to support this program, please contact us.
See our local students participating here.
CHOICES
This stay-in-school workshop is presented to sixth graders in Scottsboro City and Jackson County schools each year. CHOICES is an interactive classroom workshop that empowers students to make positive educational choices that will increase their career and life opportunities. Trained community volunteers take students through real-world exercises on the consequences of dropping out and the benefits of educational attainment. It introduces them to skills for success such as self-discipline, decision making, time management and goal setting.
Complete Jackson
IMPACT Learning Center partners with Northeast Community College, Jackson County Economic Development Authority, Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, and Scottsboro Career Center System along with other public agencies to provide individuals an opportunity to discover school/training options. Advisement for financial aid and help in choosing the best path to complete certifications and degree is included.
Partnerships
IMPACT Learning Center has partnered with Scottsboro City and Jackson County school systems to train all K-2 teachers in a multi-sensory, structured approach to teach literacy. The Orton-Gillingham training teachers received prepared them in a direct, explicit, diagnostic and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing and spelling does not come easily to individuals. Schools have seen success using this approach.