NNPS employees complete Clerical Apprenticeship Program
Posted: September 18, 2024
Newport News Public Schools employees who completed the Clerical Apprenticeship Program this year were recognized at the September 17 School Board meeting.
They were presented with certificates and celebrated their accomplishments with program leaders Dr. Nina Farrish, director of Human Resources, and Kimberly Hammond, training and development coordinator, as well as their families, friends and supporters.
The NNPS Apprenticeship Program is a structured, professional development and state certification program that combines hands-on career training and practical classroom learning. The program is designed to develop highly skilled employees.
During the two-year process, apprentices gain a deeper understanding of school and division operations, and how their work fits into the division's strategic plan and supports NNPS students.
The program is the only one in Virginia administered by a school division through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry's Apprenticeship Office.
The customized courses enhance the apprentice's skills and talents. The school division has programs in four occupational areas: Child Nutrition Services, Custodial Services, Transportation and Clerical.
The most recent graduates are now designated as clerical specialists.
The dedicated employees successfully completed a rigorous sequence of program requirements to earn a Commonwealth of Virginia Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship. The certificates state that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a time-based registered apprenticeship of 4,000 hours at the occupation of clerical specialist, in accordance with the standards approved by the Virginia Apprenticeship Council.
During the two-year program, the clerical specialists completed coursework and on-the-job training in customer service, effective communications, English, math, Spanish, workplace technology and leadership skills. The clerical apprentices also sharpened their skills in crisis training, public speaking, office management and event planning.
The new clerical specialists are as follows:
- Jennifer Barkers, Passage Middle School
- Sherry Carraway, Richneck Elementary School
- Adrenna Cephas, McIntosh Elementary School
- Christine Fisher, An Achievable Dream Academy
- Monica Hightower, Deer Park Elementary School
- Beverly Husband, Woodside High School
- Tonya Owens, Discovery STEM Academy
- Jessica Perrett, Woodside High School
- Alfreda Ray, Kiln Creek Elementary School
- Michael Richardson, Yates, Elementary School
- Latasha Thomas, Hidenwood Elementary School
- Brinklyn Williams, Menchville High School
- Jennifer Zacharias, Sanford Elementary School
