Photo By James Cleveland | KITTERY, Maine, (April 18, 2025) - Technical Educator Directors from New Hampshire...... read more read more
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Directors from New Hampshire schools visited Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, April 18, 2025, for a tour, information session and roundtable discussion. The purpose of the visit was for educators to walk away with a better understanding about the PNSY hiring process and training programs, visit multiple worksites, hear about new STEM initiatives and participate in group discussions regarding how to build relationships between PNSY, and schools.
“The Seacoast School of Technology deeply values its robust partnership with Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, whose STEM Outreach program enriches our classrooms with invaluable industry expertise while creating direct pathways to meaningful careers through student employment opportunities,” said Principal for Seacoast School of Technology (SST), Dr. Pamela Carr. “This collaboration ensures our students benefit from real-world insights and hands-on experience, preparing them for successful futures in technical fields. The Directors of NH Career and Technical Centers are very excited to learn more about PNSY and are thankful to have participated on Educator Day.”
The morning kicked off with the CTE Directors receiving a tour of the Pump House and Caisson at Dry Dock 2, Materials Test Lab, and Shipyard Heritage Center. Afterward, the Directors reconvened in the Thresher Room for a roundtable discussion with Executive Director Chris Pollard; Deputy Executive Director, Matt St. Pierre; Management Analyst, Kristine Welch; Strategic Planning Branch Head, Sarah Buttrick; STEM Outreach Program Manager, Tiffany Towning; Inside Machine Shop Operations Manager, Cory Madore; Inside Machine Shop Training Coordinator, Phil Self; Production Resources and Planning Manager, Todd Weiner; Workforce Development Manager, Justin Roy; Recruiting and Hiring Team Supervisor, Michael Millet; and Public Affairs Office Supervisor, Libby Hite in attendance.
The main focus of the roundtable discussion with shipyard leadership and CTE’s is workforce readiness. The discussion also aims to demystify PNSY and what is done here. “This partnership is really important to our workforce development,” said Kristine Welch. “We want the CTE Directors to walk away with a better understanding of PNSY and the Apprenticeship program and create future engagement opportunities to connect PNSY Subject Matter Experts (SME) with students.”
The topic of discussion focused on increasing PNSY’s quality engagement in the schools. The PNSY managers and supervisors shared knowledge of the Apprenticeship Programs, and the STEM Outreach Program.
Although many topics were discussed from what jobs are available at the shipyard, to the apprenticeship program process, to the Transportation Incentive Program (TIP), the highlight of the roundtable was the discussion of the STEM Outreach programs that PNSY offers to students from pre-kindergarten to high school.
The directors were informed that there are programs for students of all ages to get them engaged in learning skills that they can use in a future technical career. Tiffany Towning and Libby Hite shared details on the partnerships they have at the University of New Hampshire and how that’s helped to extend their reach by providing resources for schools that are outside the shipyard’s local commuting distance. Overall, the session shed light on the many opportunities working at PNSY has to offer students who are transitioning out of school and into the workforce.
PNSY hosts an annual Educator Day to discuss best practices and share resources for guidance counselors and teachers to use when assisting a student in their plan for the future. In return, CTE’s provide feedback to PNSY on how the shipyard can be a strong industry partner and bring awareness to students of opportunities offered at the shipyard.
“The time spent with the CTE Administers and Educators was a sound investment,” said Todd Weiner. “An investment in not just the future of PNSY’s Production Work force of skilled craftspeople, but an investment into the United States of America. We need to urgently strengthen America’s industrial base of tradespeople who can manufacture, repair, overhaul and modernize department of defense assets. In my opinion, there is no better place to use that trade expertise than here at PNSY, focused on our Navy’s Fast Attack Nuclear Submarine fleet.”
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.28.2025 14:48 |
| Story ID: | 496309 |
| Location: | KITTERY, MAINE, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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