Oct 22, 2014

Science experiments, career overviews and a chemical plant tour demonstrated job opportunities for high school teachers’ students during a four-day workshop hosted by Harris County Department of Education and sponsored by the Texas Chemical Council.

College of the Mainland staff and a student shared their experiences in industry to demonstrate how science applies to the workplace.

“The purpose of the panel was to help high school math, chemistry and physics teachers understand the industry,” said Bill Raley, former dean of COM Industrial/Technical Programs. “Teachers wanted answers to questions. Many high schoolers are headed to Bachelor of Arts degrees. That’s not where jobs are. We are helping make them aware of high-skills, high-demand jobs in the chemical and petrochemical industry.”
 
The project is part of continuing efforts to help high school students learn about career opportunities in industry.
 
“The area’s booming. Jobs are always arising,” said Monica Olguin, a COM process technology graduate who shared at the panel. “Science was never my thing growing up until I got into sixth grade and I had a teacher who had a big passion for science and one day worked with me one on one. After that day, I realized science is all around us.
 
“Teachers really, really do have an impact on students. I was able to go to college and get a degree because teachers said I could do it.”
 
For more information about COM workforce programs, visit www.com.edu or call 409-933-8536.