Inslee checks out skills center

Governor Jay Inslee went away impressed after a recent visit to Pierce County Skills Center for an up-close look at the technical and vocational programs available to students from the Bethel and Eatonville school districts. He toured classrooms to see students at work in subjects such as aerospace composites and machining. He also met with a panel of students to discuss their experiences at the center and their ideas for promoting the center. Afterward, Inslee called the facility, which is located in the Frederickson area, "a dream come true" for the community. Bethel, which administers the center, and Eatonville are among a consortium of school districts in Pierce County that share the center's programs, which include automotive technology, culinary arts, video game development, cosmetology, fire science and emergency services, pre-veterinary technology, and physical therapy and sports medicine. The governor's visit last month "was an honorGÇ¥ and a welcome opportunity for attention on the center's role in preparing students for post-school careers, said its director, Michelle Ledbetter. "It's important for communities and elected officials to see the impact that skills centers and quality CTE (career and technical education) programs have, because these are life-changing opportunities for students,GÇ¥ she said.

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