{"id":123949,"date":"2022-10-24T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=123949"},"modified":"2022-10-26T21:30:28","modified_gmt":"2022-10-27T02:30:28","slug":"the-tech-plays-key-role-in-developing-vocational-career-skills-for-local-high-school-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/the-tech-plays-key-role-in-developing-vocational-career-skills-for-local-high-school-students\/","title":{"rendered":"The TECH Plays Key Role in Developing Vocational Career Skills for Local High School Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Nicknamed \u201c<strong>The TECH<\/strong>,\u201d the <strong>Oxford-Lafayette School of Applied Technology<\/strong> is a vocational institution that welcomes students from both <strong>Lafayette High School<\/strong> and <strong>Oxford High School<\/strong>. Nestled in a grove of trees on <strong>Highway 7 South<\/strong>, the TECH first opened in the 1970s and has provided a large variety of technical programs for students ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe school\u2019s purpose is to offer hands-on experience to create skills outside of the normal academic curriculum,\u201d said <strong>Grant Crockett<\/strong>, director of The TECH. \u201cWe are the only school in the district that is able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Programs that The TECH offers include Automotive Technology, Construction\/Carpentry, Health Science, Metal Fabrications, Programming Fundamentals, and Educator Prep (also known as Teacher Academy). In addition to taking regular classes at their high schools, students enrolled in The TECH\u2019s courses will go to the school every weekday to learn both the fundamentals and the advanced concepts of their chosen course. Crockett says the goal of The TECH\u2019s programs is to prepare students for joining the workforce right after high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCollege is not for everyone. Some people like working with their hands and are good at it,\u201d Crockett said. \u201cNinety-five percent of students love it here and find a career through the classes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the programs take two years to complete, although a few programs can be finished in just one year. Upon completion, students in the Construction\/Carpentry, Metal Fabrications and Automotive Technology programs will receive certification of trade skills. Students enrolled in the Programming Fundamentals course will receive college credit, specifically a credit for Python programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The TECH is more than a learning institution, though. According to Crockett, The TECH is also a pillar of the local workforce, with the majority of The TECH\u2019s graduates staying in <strong>Lafayette County<\/strong> to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis program helps students meet the goals and needs of their community,\u201d said Crockett. \u201cWe want to see students go on to help the community with their skills and experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"25\" height=\"16\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/TheLocalVoiceLigature-25web.jpg?resize=25%2C16\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14544\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?resize=640%2C427\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-123950\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?w=2046&amp;ssl=1 2046w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-01.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-123951\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-02.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?resize=640%2C427\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-123952\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?w=2046&amp;ssl=1 2046w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nicknamed \u201cThe TECH,\u201d the Oxford-Lafayette School of Applied Technology is a vocational institution that welcomes students from both<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":238,"featured_media":123952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[19],"tags":[23029,19578,256,125,5,4,1135,23028,23027],"class_list":["post-123949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","tag-grant-crockett","tag-highway-7-south","tag-lafayette-county","tag-lafayette-high-school","tag-mississippi","tag-oxford","tag-oxford-high-school","tag-oxford-lafayette-school-of-applied-technology","tag-the-tech"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/The-TECH-03.jpg?fit=2046%2C1364&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}