School highlights new pre-apprenticeships, industry credentials and expanded career fairs

At the April 15, 2025 North Ridgeville City Board of Education meeting, the district presented a multi-pronged expansion of career and workforce-readiness programs, including new pre-apprenticeship pathways, increased industry-recognized credentials and larger career-expo events for students.

"We actually, through Greater Cleveland Partnership, have 4 pre apprenticeships right here at North Regional High School for our students to earn — one in IT, finance, health science, hospitality and tourism," said Missus Armbruster during the superintendent’s report and community-partnerships update. Armbruster described Ranger Academy as an alternative-education program that now includes employer partnerships and workplace coaching.

Armbruster and district staff listed community partners that support hands-on learning and internships, including Goodwill Industries, RGI Creative, Cleveland Clinic, JBS and local government agencies. She said district-sponsored events this year included a Cleveland Clinic experience, a county career-exploration day that visited a forensics lab and a planned Lorain County expo at the Ross Expo Center. "We can't do these things. There's no budget for these. This all comes from our community support," she said.

The district reported specific credentialing growth: 15 students earned pre-apprenticeship recognition through ABLE/related programs, and 34 students earned industry-recognized business credentials this year — an increase from 14 last year. The district summarized the two figures as 49 students earning credentials or apprenticeships this year.

Missus Armbruster detailed plans to expand career-cluster future fairs, integrate pre-apprenticeship work across related-arts classes and scale the programing next year. She also listed sponsors and partners that provided financial or in-kind support: Phoenix Counseling Center, Sam's Club, Big Frog, Lorain County Solid Waste Management District, Dollar Bank, Lorain County Community College (LCC), Phoenix Counseling Center (listed twice in remarks), Drug Mart, Army, Culver's and Pizza Hut.

District leaders said the initiatives give students multiple pathways to demonstrate college, career, workforce and military readiness, including pre-apprenticeships, industry credentials, CTE proficiency, work experience and military enlistment.

Board members praised the expansion and the district's efforts to grow career pathways schoolwide.