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#BCSTech Podcast - Episode #7 - Brittany Cannon

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#BCSTech Podcast - Episode #7 - Brittany Cannon. Instructional Technology Coordinator Scott Webb (@Swebb_32) hosts the #BCSTech Podcast featuring Work-Based Learning Coordinator Brittany Cannon (@bcanno). In this episode, we discuss the changes to Work-Based Learning, Brittany's two visits to Germany to study the German Dual model of education and skills training, the PIE Center, and her work with Unplug (@stayconnectedbc).

Show Transcript

what would the BCS Tech podcasts on instructional technology coordinator thanks for joining us again another episode we've got a lot of episodes lined up this month we had a great interview last episode with Larry Bell who's been who's done some terrific things here in Bradley County and today we have one of my favorite people but I say that with all my heart most of the time she's one of my favorite people Just Brittany Cannon who is what is your official title semi-official title right now we're based learning coordinator and through our Pathways Bradley Grant but that title is transitioning and I'm not exactly sure what that new title your new title should be like a jack-of-all-trades because every time I turn around in a meeting Brittany has been pulled into the meeting and we've got something going on so she's been a big asset to to the district attorney tells you know we'll talk bad about your brother for the end of the show for sure cuz he definitely didn't pull any punches on on his podcast yeah so what will he went I wanted I wanted you to have you a starring role because I didn't want you to be a bump right up against the Christmas break and nobody listen to it thanks thanks I will call that it will just called a task scheduling quirk okay thank you okay talk a little bit about you had a unique past education you know a lot of teachers you know that dream to be in elementary school or high school teacher or they they they jumped right into that that's what they studied in college unique a unique path to a your journey through to the education said I'm not going to be a teacher I started my post secondary actually Cleveland State with with still kind of an unknown as to what I wanted to go into and then does that know me know that I love to talk and love to communicate to be around people so I went that Communications routes and that took me to MTSU where I received my PR marketing I have an English minor and so from there you know it was one of those things to my parents both said oh you don't want to go in education at that point education was changing so much and so I say it was one of those times that I actually listened to my parents and end with the other a lot like most of those times on one hand so listen to them and and went into did IPR field came back to Cleveland and received a job at Randstad Staffing so in HR there I started out in sales trying to work and in our gang businesses for to hire temporary you no help there but then I moved to manage the on-site at whirlpool and Denso and while I was at Denso in that that things I would do all of the HR factions there in firing their employees that's how they would would bring their employees and would be through us I'm so well it didn't so I was approached by Junior Achievement I'm which I will put a plug in for I love that program I was approached by Junior Achievement to teach a class at a local middle school there and so of course I accepted and would teach that class for a couple of months and at that point I felt you know I really feel like I'm called into education I feel like I fought it long enough and so then I decided to just kind of go out on the website see what postings were out there and there was actually a business position open at Bradley Central and so I looked into what needed to happen to do that and because of my degree was able to come into to teaching on an apprentice license and so I started that and then received my Masters in Education so top business at Bradley for 7 years and then well I guess it's Fort well going on five Bradley County Schools received a 4.5 million dollar Grant from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education is called the youth careerconnect Grant and in that Grant we worked in the areas are it was to work in the areas of Health Science it and advanced Manufacturing and when that opportunity and when I found out we received at Grant and there was that opportunity I was very interested because I felt like it would bring my passion as education and of Industry what kind of bring that full circle to where I would be able to work with both and so I've been in that current position now and this will be the fifth year of the grant the grant was initially for four years but we still on have some of of those funds left and we were able to do an extension and so we're going into our fifth year of that Grant and so that's that's currently my path around and into education it was it's Unique But ultimately education is about a calling just disallowing we've talked about this talk about with Larry Bell talked about it with your brother Bobo all the people that have been on the on the podcast you know it's an education is it's it's similar to clergy I mean it's really cuz nobody gets into this to make any money cuz there's no money in education but it's a calling it's a passion about working with kids and seeing them reach their potential regardless of whatever that is Amadeus in whatever age they are and and and that's what pulls ascending and sometimes it's you can fight it for a long time but but ultimately it most of time it went out and you know I think I would always see the impact that's my mom and dad had through their years of education and and like you said I was I was in that classroom one day and I thought this is this is this is what I want to do yeah it's a it's a it's a great one that when that light goes all right you know I've talked about this several times on the podcast you know I wanted to be a coach I mean and a lot of us get a lot of a lot of coaches you know that's what they want to do as a high school football player played in college I wanted to I wanted to coach football but as at once I got into the business and you know I loved coaching that that still doesn't go away I miss coaching but the the the focus in the passion just really ignited in an in now that I look at it what I do is is being impact on kids life not just on the field but being able to unpack them pretty we've had a we've had really kind of a change in our work Baseline program it in a land in the old days it was people looked at it as Co-op or an experience where you would leave school early and go to work or something and get credit for that get talked about the transition in and how work-based learning is perceived any of the past versus how it's looked at now is a block of the school day where Sue what's that had a job could leave and go to go to work and as we have looked at and croner CTE programs and not only by the county but this is an initiative with the state of Tennessee is to really provide and and an opportunity for students to become college and career-ready and a big piece of that ready students is having that hands-on experience and so we're looking at now I want to don't put me on it but I am looking at 45 years that the state changed our work based learning model and while coming into this role I was I applied for a position on our state Leadership Council and so I serve on these the state of Tennessee were based learning Leadership Council where we train and provide resources coordinators across the state and so we're both learning is more now than just leaving to go to work wear based learning has a purpose and I know for us in Bradley County is all about providing purpose and showing our students that they have a purpose and a focus and that's that's part of what we're both learning is so now the students they they can use that they go to work and it in their focus area in their Pathways so and that's really where the big shift is happening is giving them an immersive experience and their career path and it's something that we haven't been doing the past absolutely so now what just use for instance if a business students they take three levels of business classes and it's funny because right before I came in here I was talking to one of great student here at Walker Valley that just finished the placement at Tennova and she was part of your NBA Academy here and sit a really am interested in healthcare administration so we sought out an internship possibility for her and she was able to see all aspects of the hospital she shadow with common false who is no law there has as gone on too and right opportunities that he allowed and to Novus always allowed our students to come in but that's just an example of a meaningful place where she was able to use that theory she learned classroom and see how it's used in the real world and said that's our goal with work-based learning it's more than leaving just to go to work it's leaving students that they complete a portfolio did they can take with them so in their portfolio those are 21st century skills employability skills that they have to document and provide artifacts for to show that next level their experience and it's been a huge Resume Builder for many many of our students what we're looking at as it as a district in and really cross street is is that being really the the the end experience for a complete Journey that start all the way back in elementary school you know we wants at the elementary level and for them just to be aware and then there's more exposure at the middle school and then once they become you know in high school and have taken those classes it is about full and version into that you know that real-world hands-on project-based experience and the state I will put a plug-in for State Department here in terms of Education in terms of the okay about the war based learning program and Anna standards and what the states trying to do there too to help those students become ready and ultimately that's that's that's what we want to do we we had didn't we allow this to Define where their area of interests and that starts if we want that to start all the way back in elementary school and then get more awareness you get the awareness you get some exposure and then ultimately that experience even if it's even if that's it finds out that something they don't want to go into weave when they graduate from school they at least have the it that understanding that no this is I don't love this I don't want to do this if it takes it away we all go through I went through it after I graduated high school and even start in in the college I didn't I didn't know and if I had eliminated something you know I originally I wanted to be an accountant if I too would have learned and had that experience and high school early in college that that's not really what I want to do then I don't spend time wasting post-secondary on on something that I'm not going to do I certainly appreciate that and want my kids to I thought if they don't like it that's as beneficial as if they do like it and want to pursue that I'm so very excited about what makes learning about the placements and I will say that we have just remarkable business partners that have been willing to take a chance on our students we had many that have never had high school students until we have approached them or stood have gone out and applied or are asked about these opportunities and said those this business is keep coming back and it's been a true win-win for both institutions and that's key and that's and I know that's part of your responsibility is building those relationships between education and Industry in it and that's an important thing because you know ultimately we're wanting to produce people and students that are ready Work Ready they can't. career-ready that can go out in in in in in be a part of a productive part A a hard worker and and have Knowledge and Skills and it takes if these two sides don't talk to one another and build that relationship then maybe doing something that that business doesn't end in business may want to help him pack what we're doing it if if you can build those relationships and that's an important piece of what you do I love this he said my job because it brings those two together with business and and it take him cuz I think for so long you know businesses are willing they want to help but they don't know how and Educators I think you're scared to ask or don't know how to ask for what to ask what to ask for and you know for me I think it's it's more for us than then to go in and ask for money it's truly about that win-win how how can we work together because some of our biggest games have not been through in a monetary donation they have been through mentoring you know job-shadowing those employees at the different Industries giving their time to be with our suit whether we don't mind monetary absolutely contributes contributions to the to the cause and speaking of the partnership that your partnership has led you to an opportunity to travel to Germany twice in the last several months some people in this room may or may not be bitter that you've been and I may be a little jealous but you have had the opportunity to twice now to go to Germany last year and talk about the experience to talk about what you learned what we're trying to pull from those experience working in education opportunity but that's part of the business relationships that we do have and the Partnerships that we do have and those trips were different in April through our Pathways Grant we purchased a lot amount of mechatronics equipment for our high schools in that straining adequate equipment and soda company that we purchased that equipment from invited a group of Bradley a team from Bradley County to to participate in their festo trip that's toe was with the company that we purchase this equipment from and so I initially said no just because I kind of apprehensive but then again felt that it would be an amazing opportunity professionally in and personally and song that trip we were able to visit the Hanover messy and a pardon me because I'm not sure I still pronounce that correctly a huge huge technology conference from people all over all over the world and is not able to see at what time okay for me to to tell you everything it was just that exciting and then we were able to tour some manufacturing facilities in Germany which truly impressive I mean it because Germany is world leader in manufacturing and to see the advancements in technology it was great and to see where we're going with our industry 4.0 we have some here or in the United States to see what's coming it was great and to be able to think about how we can change education to prepare our students for that that was a huge peace and we were able to also at that point CA vocational training center to see some of that festo equipment that we have right here at Bradley and Walker Valley we were able to see that in a German Vocational Center in that trip led to the trip I think it was pass October where you got to go over with some of the members of Bakker Bakker is a strong strong Community partner absolutely we are so fortunate and blessed have them right here in Charleston and I know that we're going to talk a little bit later on about our kind of ation Center that soccer's interested in how we train our students so they wanted us to go over to be able to see the German model Ford eleducation and so when they invited that team doctor cash Arlette Robinson Patrick angler and myself were able to Detroit Patrick spens was too has any yes no call me I know, yeah I know God continue sponsor trip fright I mean does it mean that's what happened which again is was truly a remarkable at 4 that because of our business background and then seeing where we want to go in the future this the trip in October that Bakker hosted and sponsored we were able to truly Focus on their education model and that dual education model and so we visited the three levels of the school they have a vocational training center where it's a lot like I guess you could say our vacational rrc GE classes right where they had that Hands-On they spend three to four weeks in a center such as that then they go to a vocational training school where they had the theory they get their math English you know science those that are related to the area that they chose to go into and the German model education model is very it's what's the word there's a lot of choices and so this is just one route that I'm speaking because it's it's what most relates to our past dinner and then the students are actually when they're selected this was a boxer training at 2 and these students after their ninth class they go to these three centers and they're paid by blocker while doing the training for the three to four years so it's pretty remarkable C and I guess you know seeing even the elementary students again I think I mentioned earlier purpose and how we want our our students to have that sense of purpose and you could really see the that's from the students there and you know we are really wanting to take our stem and exposure early we want to get it in more we already had enough several schools since  that we want that to be a district Focus where we really want to have that same focus in Elementary and high paying high-wage areas and and business and industries constantly telling you telling us that that we've got it we've got a demand for jobs but we can't find Qualified people to do it and and what what that dude said that gives us a pocket of opportunity to about there and say hey look if we can change how we do school we're not talking about blowing it all up and start over again but we're talking about changing how we develop our Workforce in in and giving them opportunities to experiment experiencing those those type of situation the earlier we can do that the better prepared they can be to go out there and actually get those jobs and certifications and things that all that that will give them the chance to do the things that those students inspired today absolutely and I think like you said I really do think we have to change the way and how we educate it's not the same I mean I'm not calling us old but it's not kids today or not the same and and we to find innovative ways to train and to teach speaking of we're going to talk about Riley County's plans for the Innovative way of of doing technology in Anna and in doing training and and some of that and how it relates to the the the pie Center and Inn where we are in that process we were listening to the BCS Tech pack pack will be back in just one minute hello I am Arlette Robinson CTE director was Bradley County Schools did you know that we offer 26 different career programs of study to prepare students for college career and life kindergarten to job developing tomorrow's Workforce the best return on your investment Bradley County school going students building teachers what do I do ABC Aztec podcast I'm scotweb instructional technology coordinator for Bradley County schools and we have work based learning coordinator Brittany cannon with acid a shot at Patrick our we want to wait a little bit later I don't know if after the Fiasco of yesterday nobody knows what we're talking about I don't know if taking a shot at him is exactly the right thing to do when I going to go there Patrick does a good job I don't know how he's been able to tagalong on both Germany trip so he's just very passionate and he just say this followed me in every job that I have been in peace off with the Staffing peace Nolan Patrick graduated from Lee he graduated with that business because we both bought that that education calling and you know coach coaching ultimately brought into education but I'm so he followed me to run side so we work together there it runs. Left Ron said I did and I went to Bradley well a year later Here Comes little brother with a door open in the middle in the middle but had to be a great Dynamic I mean that we have are also so that happened at Bradley well where is across the street and used to tell the kids in the classroom if Patrick want something done who do you think he calls its myself in my husband lawn mower to hang pictures you know he's going to be a bit of a follower so show me Jason's Deli I want to watch you know it's Jason Patrick Patrick then the grandkids then then you it was I said the first you know Germany trip by what I had said no I really did not want to leave didn't want to leave my family at that point and someone our director Arlette Robinson CT Charter could not go when she asked me again and that's when Patrick has been chosen from Bradley and I said okay I guess it's a little bit better and that's how that happened so then that he is he does a great job he does a great job but that's if you want to go back couple episodes you can even hear all the good stuff we talked about him know that we left got topic of conversation with the you know how how Germany does school and how that looks a little different than what we've done and that leads into a topic of conversation on on the pie Center that you gave me a work right now we're in the midst of doing a little bit of what the right word is we're starting to get though it was a lot of information out about the pie Center you know when the building was first purchase and all that it kind of went to the back burner as we were working on some things internally but now we're starting again get the the sajjad about you know what the pie Center is what it means you don't talk a little bit about the vision of what the pie Center is ultimately going to be about pie Center is the old American Uniform building live headed on Parker Street and we purchase that building now two years ago and we truly had a vision to not only let this be an innovation and Innovative Center in Bradley County that we want it to reach region-wide write the vision is not just for Bradley high school credits for McMinn County Polk County you know North Hamilton you know just it's the make it a regional center rich and Industry here rich and advanced Manufacturing and as I'm I'm out talking to these different Industries you hear this daily that they have so many of those skilled workers at retirement and just do not have those workers this killed him ways to fill those thoughts and so that's what was so unique about the little education model in Germany is we were able to see when we visited the soccer facility there is there's always hotline because they're training those students and their vocational centers and training schools and said that's truly where we want to go with the pie Center and we cannot fall use Germany's model structured is from beginning to end and we're looking more on on what happens on a on a secondary yes yes but we can certainly mimic and 8 pieces of that and in some of those will be the flexible scheduling because many of you know we we have a great great CT program here in Bradley County at that's Bradley and Walker Valley but we do now I have for the most part we have the same programs but there are some programs that are different such as Machining and Welding are only a house that Bradley and so those are both skilled trades skilled jobs that that Industries looking for and so those are areas that we would like to move into the pie Center so that we can service for students and that are students at Walker Valley better interested it's it's not that you don't want to have welding at walk around a high school it's that you financially you can't afford to build two programs in one place where if you build a central location that that stood not only from our schools but from other schools can participate and then it then financially it's easier to invest in one place than it is to kind of Aquino don't recreate that in multiple locations programs are expensive like you said another component that we had not originally thought up for the pie spinner with a chemistry lab and a chemistry components that if you think about our industry here in Bradley County that would have that need we have right where we're standing here Walker Valley right now and we have Bakker Olin Lanza you have bear and said that chemistry lab you never real up to date specialized glad that that we can even allow our middle and elementary school students to have access to the component that was added after the last Germany trip but that the whole goal is to bring busy an industry components in and part of that is is there agreement to work in to train students and so we we are in discussion with several I'm Industries here that are very interested in coming into the pot Center and then we also have had a spot there for retail and a a place that we're looking at a medical clinic in all that is into giving our different students different types of experiences we have right placements we are limited to do today age barrier and said the puss I was going to allow our students that are under 18 to have those that Hands-On absolutely it's your there's a lot of moving pieces you know in the end we've got you know ready to launch a fundraising campaign I guess for lack of a better term but you know if there's a lot of issues but the vision is still very very much and green of what we want to do and and what's best for our kids and if yeah it's it's taken probably more time than any of us would have liked to get this launched and off the ground but a we want to do it the right way and be we want to make sure that we are putting everybody you know the businesses that want a partner education Lee looking make sure we have are things going to lined up and ready to go before it really launching it in getting that facility ready but I I know I mean every time I see the plans or you know yesterday we had that you had the opportunity to talk to go to the presentation again with the principals in the district at 6 it's exciting to hear because it's really something different and unique and it week you there what's the old saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result and if we want to to be in the in the biz creating competent skilled workers and giving them the best opportunity to have a chance to succeed we can't continue to do the model that we're doing we're going to have to do something different to meet their needs and meet the demands needs of Industry looking at flexible scheduling you know looking just at the different Logistics pieces there you know really looking and and I do think I mentioned this earlier but really exposing students at an earlier level and that Center will be a place that we can do that as well and that's you need to place a really kind of give them young give the students of the engage the opportunity to see what a robotics lab looks like our are what you know this this and that you'll look like in in this will give us an opportunity to to hopefully build that interest and and and get kids excited about doing those types of jobs are the play some exciting things were a lot of time left. I do want to give you your very involved with a group here in Bradley can call them plug talk a little bit about unplugged and and and in what that group is trying to accomplish a great group of high school kids 3rd or 4th year it's for I think it's for so and when one piece that I can say that I truly nessa's is being in a classroom and and getting to work with those kids and students on a daily basis my daily basis so when doctor cash came and this was after we lost one of our own to an overdose she said we have a problem and I want our students to understand this and I want a group of students that are willing to take the lead and to get this drug awareness message out to their peers and to be that positive influence in their school and in the community and she said would you mind just kind of facilitating that group and being there you know for them getting that initial group and I said absolutely that is it is something that I feel as well very passionate about because I know that we have all been impacted through a friend family member you know someone that that's close to us through epidemic and these students it's a group of students from Bradley and Walker Valley that and then since that first group these are students that I've been selected by their peers and they're focusing more now they're they're focusing on more now than just just opioids they're really focusing on those deeper issues that cause students to turn to the drugs and alcohol and so it's it's been such a joy we had a meeting and dr. cash actually opened her home on Sunday night to this group to talk into plan about what I want to do this next semester and so they're at their always and I know they they did posters for the bathrooms this month just positivity we have a group of girls that are there doing a female events on body image in February so they try to do something monthly to promote their message unplug from the negative things and then plug into positivity it's it's every year every year I guess since the Inception I've had the opportunity to work with and we put together a little video we show up before the Walker Valley Bradley football game and it's it's always great to work with a group of kids that are so excited about until passion about something I mean when your sit down and they're writing a script and you see him all putting things together and ideas of flying around the room it's just that's it like you said as soon as you said that it's it's in this role that's the one thing that I miss I missed it that day Gator action with kids so when you get that opportunity to be around them and then you know it's it's it it helps fill me up because there they do such a great job and they're so passionate about it and in there a great job of getting the message out and in getting not just the the the the opioid message but now they're starting to expand that and and and that's that's on them that's not anybody saying hey we need to do this you need to be taught weed are my business in this that's on them and that's obviously they understand that the trials and tribulations of what it is to be a teenager we don't we had different experiences and then they have now that the passion to go out there and then try to do I'm positive it's just a phenomenal group to be around is it's just so it's so amazing to watch an to be a part of and I'll put a plug in for the the event on February 9th it's called she is and it's going to be at pangle Hall and so watch for that on social media and it's it's it's again student-led and that's what again is that's what that's what I tell people all the time that's when the magic happens when you just when you give them you kind of keep them fenced-in but then you just turn them loose and let them do their thing that usually that's when great things happen and they do a great job one more thing we are getting to go to you're just a world traveler or not a world traveler but we are headed to Florida here in this is it sort of I don't even know if I talk to you think technology on the podcast yet or not but yeah we are getting a chance to go to Florida to fetc the Future that used to be the Florida education technology constant conference now it's the future of education and Technology conference but it's it's one of my favorite we've been to conferences all over the country and it's one of my favorite conferences every year it's just amazing the amount of Technology an ed-tech that is really out there. It's my favorite conference that I have ever been too and I feel like it's the one that we've been able to bring back the most resources and I think last conference since it was two years ago we were able to go in and again we are able to do this through our grant funds those that are not aware that Grant does require so much so many fans be allocated for travel and so we try to find those those conferences the professional development that's going to bring back and give us a biggest bang for our buck for the district and I think it's my 5th or 6th trip down there last year I had a bender for me I just went down drug down myself and went but it's really it's really passing what the whole next podcast I want to have all the technology coaches in and talk about some of the cool things that are happening in attack but it's it's really a conference where you can see all the cool toys but I really enjoyed the sessions because you get to see the putting the technology into practice and instruction and in classrooms and and that's where I've always kind of generate the most information from a I mean there's all sorts of cool toys I usually can't afford any of that stuff so it doesn't it's just cool to go look at but it's the it's the practicality of what how they're using what technology do they have in and putting it to worse and in trying to better our student one of its free and I will say one of those a toy that we were able to to get from that last time and that those schools do have is a Zine out of my stables and it's it's a cadaver table that both of our health science programs have and this is this is a table that many universities do not even have time so we were able to find that at at the technology conference and purchased that through the grants and we've had members of the hospital and and you know different help he'll try need help training institutions, music it is so phenomenal if you get a chance or opportunity or there's an open house high schools go take a look because it's really cool what students are able to do it in a in a virtual environment with that table it's it's just pretty cool thank you so much for being on the show any any last parting shots across the bow at any relatives and for a scan and we've got our next step going but I think Patrick mentioned we're just overwhelmed by the amount of Love support and prayers from Bradley County Schools nice calling money Hall cuz every time you called me is taken out when when I took this role it was a I need to make a deal he was wanting to find some devices and do some things he's but he's a great man he's done a great job and he's done a great job raising kids even if I can have to give them a hard time every now and then but pretty thanks so much for being on the I guess that's going to do it for this episode of the PCS Tech podcast do remember that our next episode we will have all six technology coaches are going to be in when I'm talk about the cool things that we saw down in Florida technology conference and then February is CTE so are that Robinson is going to be joining us a little bit later in the month we've got Susan willcutt or our Chief Financial Officer or financial director or whatever her title is one of the most important people in the district that should be her title we're going to have her on a little bit later in as well talk about financing and how schools are actually Finance going to give you a little information on how that process works and and and and how how funding is how how schools are funded it's going to be unique podcast I'm really looking for that so thanks again for joining us. I'm Scott Webb the instructional technology coordinator you been listening to the PCS Tech podcast

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