Gibson Technical Center Newsletter

September is here and it has been so great to finally have students back in the building. As expected, nearly all of our programs are at full capacity which is great to see the interest in our programs and the potential influx for our local workforce. Our student numbers also reminds us of the great benefit right around the corner of having our new facility under construction. As of now, the timeline to move into the new Table Rock Career Center is still on pace for sometime next fall. Ideally, we'll be in before the school year begins, but we'll have to see how progress goes over the winter. In the meantime, this school year is off to a great start, and we're excited to see our students excel in their programs of study.

Mr. Brian Moler

Director- Gibson Tech

The 2024 state budget, signed by Governor Parson, included $17 million in funding for the new Table Rock Career Center. Part of the Reeds Spring School District, this center will provide students from our eleven sending schools with a state-of-the-art facility to receive career and technical education, which will better prepare them for the workforce.

This funding would not have been possible without the support of Senator Karla Eslinger and Senator Lincoln Hough. It’s a significant investment in the future of Missouri's workforce. The center is expected to positively impact the local economy, as businesses will be able to hire workers with the skills they need to grow and thrive. In addition, the center will provide students with a pathway to good-paying jobs and a secure financial future.

“The approval of this funding is the result of a collaborative effort between local legislators, educators, and business leaders who recognize the importance of providing students with high-quality career and technical education,” said Reeds Spring Superintendent Dr. Cody Hirschi. “By investing in the Table Rock Career Center, Missouri is taking a significant step toward ensuring that its workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of the modern economy.”

Thanks to all involved in making the vision for this new building into a reality.

Excerpt from Reeds Spring R-IV School District Press Release (June 30, 2023)

The Marine Technology program at Gibson Technical Center is one of just two programs serving the marine industry in Missouri. Through the years, students enrolled in this two-year program of study have an opportunity to earn his/her Missouri Boaters License through the Missouri Coast Guard Axillary. This is a mandatory requirement for any person who wants to pursue a career in this high-demand industry. The Yamaha University introduction to Outboard Systems certificate is the Industry Recognized Credential that will help student’s standout when they begin pursuing employment in one of the many marine shops in the Tri-Lakes region.

With GTC’s purchase of a new forklift, the Marine Technology program now provides students an opportunity to earn an OSHA Forklift Certification. This is huge because many entry-level positions in this industry require employees to move customer boats from dry storage facilities to the lake. How do they move the boats from storage? Well, a forklift, of course.

Since the students are getting the OSHA Forklift training, all students in this program are working toward his/her OSHA 10 Certification, this is a lifetime certification, but employers may have new employees take a refresher, if needed. “The OSHA 10 card proves to employers that potential employees completed 10 hours of OSHA-authorized training on critical workplace safety topics. Entry-level workers with this credential have industry-specific knowledge and skills that help prevent injuries and keep workplaces safe and productive” (OSHA Education Center).

The RS Works program is a new opportunity to give the senior students of GTC a meaningful work experience through employer-paid internships and apprenticeships. This program is designed to give students an immersive experience into real-world careers, where they will learn applicable skills and problem solving above and beyond typical student employment.

Students are recruited for their internship/apprenticeships during their junior year and are required to have instructor approval as well as have good attendance and academic standing within their program. The student will work with Mrs. Pryor, RS Works Coordinator, to secure internship/apprenticeship employment for their senior year.

Currently, RS Works has 12 students getting ready to begin their internships for this academic school year! Industries include marine tech, legal, education, real estate, health occupations, dental, and business.

If you are a junior, senior, parent of a junior/senior, or potential employer wishing to find out more information - please email Mrs. Rachel Pryor at rpryor@wolves.k12.mo.us.

Please checkout the RS Works Website: https://www.rs-wolves.com/o/hs/page/rsworks

We are featuring 2019 Reeds Spring High School graduate Tyler Brown. Tyler has been a Marine Technician at The Harbor in Branson, Missouri for the last three years. From a young age he loved two things; the lake and turning wrenches. To support these passions Tyler completed the Marine Technology program at Gibson Technical Center and as a bonus, he was also enrolled in the Automotive Technology program his senior year. While at GTC Tyler was a student who not only excelled in the lab, but also in the classroom. Chris Jenkins (Marine Technology Instructor) will always remember how Tyler always gave 100% effort, 100% of time and never shied away from any challenge.

If there was ever a job that has Tyler’s name all over it is his current position with The Harbor. He spends most of his time on service calls to many areas along the shores of Table Rock Lake. Instead of a work truck he travels to various docks along the lake by boat. He feels blessed to have a position where he gets to do the two things he appreciates in life, being on the lake and making repairs on all types of boats.

Tyler is grateful for his experience at GTC. It provided him an outlet to showcase his mechanical skills outside of a traditional classroom setting. As he reflects on his time in the Marine Technology program he will always remember the kindness, patience, and the knowledge Mr. Jenkins brought to the classroom every day. Tyler had this advice for current high school students, “For students who are not quite sure on a path for the future, GTC is a great place to explore new things.”

Gibson Technical Center is proud to spotlight our custodian, Jody Shinnebarger. Mr. Shinnebarger has worked in the following Reeds Spring School buildings in his 13 years in the school district: Primary, high school and for the last eight years at GTC. Before he began his tenure in the Reeds Spring School District he spent many years working in retail management. His years of experience in management has made Mr. Shinnebarger a valued member of the Gibson Technical Center’s staff.

He enjoys working with the students and making sure they have a clean and safe environment for learning. He works tirelessly making sure members of the staff have everything they need in an effort to maximize the use of all classrooms and lab spaces. In his time at GTC he appreciates how the instructors have transitioned from careers in industry to careers in education. Working with a staff of professionals who understand how industry operates provides students an understanding of what expectations are when students enter the workforce.

Brian Moler, GTC Director, values what Mr. Shinnebarger brings to the building. “Our building is 50 years old and no one can hardly tell. Many of our programs of study are essentially ‘dirty jobs’ but Jody and his staff do not use that idea as an excuse not to go the extra mile in regards to making sure GTC remains a highly functional building.”

Without the hard work of Jody Shinnebarger our mission to prepare today's students for tomorrow through quality Career and Technical Education would not be realized.

To sign-up: Complete the enrollment form by going to the following website: https://5il.co/22ybd

If you have any questions please call (417) 272-3271 or email john Giebler at jgiebler@wolves.k12.mo.us

The printing/graphic design industry has evolved immensely in the 26 years Mr. Bruffett has been the program's instructor. As this industry has evolved so has this program of study. In the past students spent the majority of lab time producing business cards, newsletters, flyers, and brochures. Though many of the items are still being produced, students are now creating banners, T-shirts, and graphics for cars, trucks, and buses, Over the last two years this program has grown so much, GTC just purchased six new computers and workstations for the students.

This course is designed to introduce students to basic graphic design techniques through the use of various desktop publishing programs. Last year students were fully immersed in Adobe Photoshop and this year students will get hands-on experience with Adobe Illustrator which is used to create a wide variety of digital and printed images, including cartoons, charts, diagrams, graphs, logos, and illustrations. Students with experience in both Photoshop and Illustrator have a wide variety of career paths to choose from.

Last Spring Mr. Shannon Lasiter’s Auto Technology I class gained valuable real-world experience when they replaced the engine in one of the Crane Police Department’s cruisers. Mr. Lasiter learned the City of Crane had a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria police car that had a catastrophic engine failure and was sitting at a shop awaiting its fate. A very reputable shop had quoted the town a reasonable price for this major repair, but it was more than the City of Crane was willing to spend on the vehicle. City Hall considered decommissioning the vehicle and selling it for parts.

Mr. Lasiter has many years of experience in maintaining and repairing emergency vehicles. He knows the importance of keeping all patrol cars on the road serving and protecting communities. He also understands the fiscal challenges of small towns. Being a graduate of Crane High School he wanted to use his connections to see if he could not only help out the City of Crane, but also to give his students a fun and interesting project. He found a used and reliable engine and offered Mayor Collin Brannan an offer to have the students provide the labor in the GTC Auto Technology lab for a significant savings for the City of Crane and offered to complete the work in one week.

Mr. Lasiter could not have measured the excitement the students had when they were given the project. The students learned the importance of checking oil, as the original engine developed a leak and ran dry causing the failure. The students also learned the proper procedures of swapping an engine in a late model car, giving potential customers options that aren't always “black and white,” and the importance of providing quality customer service. The most important lesson the students learned was the importance of being civic-minded members of a community.

Below: The police cruiser the students worked on at the Crane Broiler Festival Parade

High school students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.

• 81 percent of dropouts say relevant, real-world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school.

• The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 90.18 percent, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 74.9 percent.

• More than 70 percent of secondary CTE concentrators pursued postsecondary education shortly after high school.

Source: CTE Today Fact Sheet from the National Center for Education Statistics

Reeds Spring, Missouri 65737

Email: bmoler@wolves.k12.mo.us
Website: https://www.rs-wolves.com/o/gtc
Phone: (417) 272-3271
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibsontechnicalcenter
Twitter: @gibson_tech