District highlights work‑based learning; business and state partners praise program and request succession planning
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Summary
Students, educators and officials lauded Dr. Sue Seguerrette’s work‑based learning program at Churchill County High School, describing internships, employer partnerships and virtual‑reality career mapping that have expanded student opportunities. State officials and local employers urged support and succession planning as the program grows.
Churchill County High School’s work‑based learning program drew board and public attention Tuesday as students, employers and a representative from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development described internships, career mapping and employer partnerships that they said are opening job and college pathways for local students.
Dr. Sue Seguerrette, who oversees the district’s work‑based learning efforts, presented program highlights with students and local business partners at the board meeting. Students described internships at local veterinary and hardware businesses, paid summer work experiences and training programs that helped them gain college and job placements.
Several students spoke in support of the program. Madison Keller, a senior, said an internship at a veterinary clinic gave her practical experience toward her goal of becoming a veterinarian. Another senior, Nadia Busserto, said she had been placed into a certified nursing assistant program through the district and that the experience would allow her to work while attending college.
Local employers and community members credited the program with building both student skills and local workforce pipelines. Joe Frey, a business owner who has hosted student interns, said he’d seen interns’ attitudes and ambitions change and urged continued support. Employers described placements for students in fields including veterinary care, agriculture, construction trades and cybersecurity.
Tammy Westergaard of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development told the board the state’s Individual Career Mapping initiative has linked virtual‑reality career exposure and assessments with internships the district provides. Westergaard said the district’s work has contributed to a broader state effort to increase “labor market literacy” — the ability of students and workers to understand the job market, automation and career pathways.
Board members and district leaders praised the program and also urged the development of formal succession planning. Westergaard and others noted program sustainability concerns because much of the program’s success depends on the time and availability of a small number of staff. The governor’s office representative said state partners can provide technology and research support, but that district capacity will determine long‑term scale.
Superintendent Parsons and board members thanked students and partners for the presentation and acknowledged next steps: continuing employer outreach, documenting impacts in district accountability reporting and exploring options for long‑term staffing, training and funding.
No formal board action was taken on the program during the meeting. Several speakers asked the board to consider continued or expanded support through the budget process.
