FCPS teachers attend industry conference

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The new school year begins in Fayette County next week, but learning is already underway for hundreds of teachers in the district. On Monday, they attended the Kentucky Chamber Foundation Educator’s Guide to Industry conference, which offered a front-row seat to the inner workings of five different Lexington businesses.

“To really see what it looks like on the job site and be able to pass that on to the students,” said Beth Fain, academy coach at Tates Creek High School. “They’ll be able to see what these job skills look like in the field so they can apply them to the classroom,” Fain continued.

Space Tango, Grimes Restaurants, Triyam, Camp Bow Wow and Gray have all opened their doors for teaching and demonstrations. For the Tates Creek engineering and technology teacher, his time at Gray, who is working to increase efficiency through robotics and technology, has been well spent.

“We’re looking for ways to make our classroom realistically the same,” Mr. Jenkins said, before listing several aspects of the work at Gray that he saw Monday that will be useful in the classroom. “As an educator, we’re looking at how we can bring that environment back to students,” he said of his goal for the day.

The Academy at Tates Creek High School gives students the opportunity to begin thinking about a career or major by receiving training in a vocational or vocational-like environment.

“They’re there (in the classroom) for a reason,” Jenkins said. “We want to give them every opportunity they can to have some direction when they leave,” he continued.

At Gray, teachers saw several demonstrations of the company’s cutting-edge gadgets and machines, but Mr. Jenkins also looked beyond technology.

“How do they work with people? How do they write their reports? How do they present their information? Where is the teamwork and collaboration,” he listed as some of the things he wanted to see and eventually share with his students starting next week.