Teachers learn about workforce trends

OAK HARBOR — In a continued effort to strengthen the connection between education and local industry, the fifth-annual Ottawa County Teacher Business Boot Camp took place from June 10-12. This hands-on professional development program is a collaboration between North Point Educational Service Center and the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council, welcoming nine educators from across the county to participate in this year's event. Over the course of three days, teachers visited six different Ottawa County businesses to learn more about workforce trends, in-demand skills and career opportunities available to students. Each day consisted of a morning session with lunch provided by the host company, then followed by an afternoon session at a different business location: • On June 10, the group began the day with a visit to Materion, followed by an afternoon session at Vistra/Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. • On June 11, teachers met with staff at Luther Home of Mercy in Williston before heading to Port Clinton Manufacturing in the afternoon. • The final day, June 12, included a morning visit at LogistiQ with the final afternoon session occurring at Magruder Hospital. To conclude the program, participating educators gave presentations on June 16, at Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Center where they summarized their visits and shared key takeaways. These reflections focused on how they plan to bring real-world industry insights back into their classrooms and help students better connect education to future careers. "The Ottawa County Teacher Business Boot Camp continues to serve as a powerful opportunity for educators to engage directly with local employers, building stronger partnerships between schools and the business community while preparing students for a successful future in the regional workforce," according to a council statement.