SHOP TALK #6:
Promising Practices
Published July 10, 2006
Planning, Delivering, and Sustaining Workplace
Instruction. During
the November 2005 Texas Council for Adult Basic Education Leadership
Conference in Galveston, a number of programs identified themselves as
having launched successful work-related instructional initiatives. As
programs shared their experiences, it quickly became obvious that no
two programs are the same, and that no one individual has all the answers.
But sharing successes and describing obstacles overcome is invaluable
to others facing similar challenges. SHOP TALK #6 is the first of several
releases showcasing some of the excellent efforts occurring out in the
field. Texas LEARNS invites programs to share their promising practices
in responding to workforce needs in their communities.
ESC Region 1, Edinburg, which serves a large portion of the Lower Rio
Grande Valley, recently met with Cameron Works, the local workforce development
board serving Cameron County. Cameron Works maintains five workforce
centers – two in Brownsville, two in Harlingen, and one in San
Benito. Harlingen falls within the service delivery area of Region
1. Recently Echostar, an outbound satellite sales company that
also provides technical support for a dish network, approached the local
workforce development board (LWDB) for assistance in hiring employees
for its Harlingen location. The dilemma: the company’s
hiring policy requires all employees to have a high school diploma. Dismayed
at not finding potential employees with these credentials in Harlingen,
Echostar turned to Cameron Works.
Cameron Works contacted ESC Region 1 to request a short presentation
for Echostar, describing the delivery of GED instruction and more importantly,
the personal and economic benefits to attaining a GED. Adult
education director Elva Garcia, and instructional coordinator Alma Doffing,
explained that attainment of the GED boosts individuals’ self esteem
and can pave the way to career and employment opportunities. Their presentation
captured the attention of the company, which then requested corporate
approval to waive the high school credential requirement for employment
with Echostar. New hires without a high school credential will
be required to enroll in GED preparation at Cameron Works’ Career
Center in Harlingen, with ESC Region I providing instruction. In
addition, Echostar is designating an area of its worksite as a tutoring
pod where employees can access computer-based instruction and tutoring.
Echostar’s change in its hiring policy is for the Harlingen site
only. However, corporate headquarters is watching this change in policy
closely as a model for possible nationwide replication. The company’s
mantra: Employers must find ways to engage the worker; members
of today’s workforce have choices. Companies that invest
in their employees and are committed to promoting from within can have
a tremendous impact on a community. The Harlingen management team hopes
this initiative will enable the company to tap into the vast local labor
force that lacks English proficiency, the GED certificate, and vocational
training. Echostar wants no differentiation between employees with
and without high school credentials. The company plans to establish a
mentorship program to assist employees in qualifying for the variety
of on-the-job training opportunities that will allow them to advance
as well as make lateral transfers from call center functions to office
administration and technical support positions.
Another service ESC Region 1 may be asked to provide is job readiness
/ employability skills. Echostar is searching for ways to strengthen
employees’ commitment to an industry that traditionally experiences
high attrition where regular attendance and punctuality are critical,
as are strong communication skills.
Northeast Texas Community College, Mount Pleasant. A successful
initiative that has been around since 1994 is the partnership between
Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) and Pilgrim’s Pride (a
poultry processing plant). Since the majority of Pilgrim’s
Pride employees are non-native speakers of English, ESL and basic skills
instruction have long been part of the foundation of this partnership. Over
the years, Jeannie Pruitt and Sue Barker have met with Pilgrim’s
Pride management personnel to ensure that instruction focuses on the
skills and knowledge employees need to keep or advance in their jobs,
meet demands for productivity, and ensure safety.
Ongoing communication between the adult education provider and Pilgrim’s
Pride, plus a financial commitment from the company to underwrite the
costs of the program, have played critical roles in sustaining this workplace
initiative for over ten years. An educational team meets twice
monthly to identify ways to further customize instruction to meet the
specific needs of the company. NTCC also recognizes the vital role
frontline supervisors play in the success of a workplace initiative. They
are usually the first to notice positive changes in employees’ workplace
performance and behavior as well as increased productivity. NTCC
will pilot the manufacturing component being developed in response to
Rider 82 with Pilgrim’s Pride employees.
NTCC recently applied for a Self Sufficiency grant from TWC. With
this grant, the adult education program hopes to target the specific
hard and soft skills Pilgrim Pride’s entry level workers need to
gain access to promotion and career path opportunities, since the company
has a tradition of promoting from within. NTCC’s long standing
relationship with the employer and the grant will enable them to focus
on the specific math and writing skills required to move to the next
job in line. 75 employees will participate.
Another contributing factor to NTCC’s success in workplace literacy
over the years: flexible scheduling. The employer’s
production deadlines, changes in processes, and equipment upgrades can
all impact the delivery of instruction and employees’ availability
to attend classes.
ESC Region 6, Huntsville, recently applied as a subcontractor
in a third application for a Self Sufficiency grant from TWC. The
adult education program has a history of successful partnerships with
applicants eligible for these funds. Instructional Coordinator
Kristi Hayman is confident that past experience with Self-Sufficiency
funds will enable Region 6 to provide more focused services to the local
workforce and to sustain the strong employer and training provider relationships
now established. The first grant focused its efforts on recruiting
employees from the many independent school districts served by Region
6. But when only four school districts responded by referring food
service employees and bus drivers to the program, Region 6 expanded its
recruitment efforts to local employers and regular adult education classes. The
first and second grants served approximately 300 participants over a
two year period.
If awarded a third grant, Region 6 will focus on preparation for three
in-demand employment opportunities in the region: certified medication
aide, certified nurse’s aide, and certified childcare provider. Enrollment
in the program will be open to ABE/ASE level learners as well as those
with limited English language skills. Kristi acknowledges, however,
the reluctance of many adult learners enrolled in ESL classes to share
personal information, which is required in order to determine eligibility
for the program.
The program has always offered a six hour pre-employment skills orientation. This
provides participants with essential preliminary information about the
targeted occupations and certificate programs, and helps prepare them
for a serious commitment to the program. Since childcare and transportation
are provided, participants must understand the expectations regarding
their enrollment and retention.
Postsecondary institutions, Blinn and Angelina Community Colleges and
Sam Houston State University, have partnered with Region 6 to provide
the necessary occupational training, and it is expected that employers
will continue to provide on-the-job training and/or internships for participants.
Grant funds will be used to pay for tuition, needed equipment, uniforms,
etc.
Interested in learning more about Self Sufficiency and Skills Development
Grants available through the Texas Workforce Commission? Go to http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/funds/sdfintro.html and http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/funds/ssfintro.html. Eligible
applicants are public community or technical colleges, the Texas Engineering
Extension Service, or a community-based organization working in partnership
with one of these institutions.
