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As students prepare to head back to school, Robert D. Campbell Junior High and the Clark County Area Technology Center are continuing a fruitful partnership.

The collaboration between schools provides middle school students an advantage of information and exploratory opportunities as they prepare to choose a pathway of emphasis and possible career in their high school experience, an avenue not offered in many districts across the state. 

This fall, Robert D. Campbell Junior High will bring an enhanced curriculum to students through the Project Lead the Way course offerings taught through the career enrichment classes. Additions to the classrooms this year at Robert D. Campbell include enhanced automated systems, upgrades to the VEX V5 technologies and investigations in mechanical and electrical systems.  

Shelly Chesnut, automation and robotics teacher at Robert D. Campbell, is excited about the coming school year.  

“The collaborative program between Robert D. Campbell and the Clark County Area Technology Center gives our students a leg up so to speak, giving them the opportunity to explore many of the engineering careers at a middle school introductory level before they have to make a choice of a high school pathway,” Chestnut said. “This increases our student rate of success all the way around.”

Over the summer, several students got the opportunity to visit the Clark County Area Technology Center during a three-day camp, where they learned about the technolgoy center’s offerings in health sciences, auto mechanics, carpentry, electrical engineering and welding. 

Robert D. Campbell’s career enrichment class, medical detectives, sparked an interest with several students to learn more about the offerings at the ATC.

Sylis B,, a student who attended the Clark County Area Technology Center camp, said, “ATC camp is great.  It provides an opportunity to learn a variety of useful and enjoyable skills. I encourage all to try this camp!” Several area technology center paths offer students opportunities to earn certifications. For example, students in the welding program graduate with welder’s certification, which can lead to a good-paying job upon high school graduation.  

For more information about the ATC or RDC’s  Career Enrichment classes, contact the Youth Services Center at Robert D. Campbell Junior High or the Area Technology Center.