HERO grant to fund dual-enrollment CNA and medical assisting pathways for DeKalb County students

TCAT McMinnville, NHC Healthcare in Smithville and the DeKalb County School System announced a partnership to expand dual-enrollment health-care training for DeKalb County High School students, backed by a four-year HERO grant that will support classroom instruction and industry certification.

Michelle Chamberlain, dual-enrollment coordinator at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology — McMinnville, said the HERO grant began last fall and will run for four years, allowing TCAT to provide additional funds and support for courses taught in the high school that count toward TCAT programs. "Being able to offer these classes in the high schools, it is a pathway for these students to get knowledge about health care and about nursing and be able to continue that, their career goals in health care," Chamberlain said.

Ryan Vaden, administrator at NHC Healthcare in Smithville, described how the grant will expand support for NHC’s certified nursing assistant (CNA) class and help more students earn industry certifications and hands-on skills. "TCAT McMinnville has received a grant called the HERO grant to help boost the workforce in rural communities," Vaden said, adding the grant will "support additional funds and additional support for programs like NHC's certified nursing assistant class to continue, fostering its growth." He said the CNA instructor currently used by NHC will teach the high-school-format course so students can complete clinical components and earn certification.

Brad Leach, career and technical education director for the DeKalb County School System, outlined logistics for dual-enrollment and on-site instruction. He said students would attend clinical internships at NHC during the fifth and sixth blocks of the school day and that transportation from the high school to NHC will be required for those off-campus clinical periods. Leach also described existing dual-enrollment offerings (automotive, machine tool, building trades, cosmetology, industrial maintenance and mechatronics) and said health-care programs will add to those pathways.

Officials said the dual-enrollment opportunities will mainly target juniors and seniors, though some sophomores could be eligible depending on schedules. Chamberlain explained that hours earned through high-school dual enrollment will count toward TCAT’s nursing and patient-care technician programs, shortening the time students spend after high school to earn credentials. Vaden said CNA certification can be a stepping-stone into further nursing training but noted graduates would not be required to work for NHC.

Leach said the partnership aims to launch in fall 2026 for the 2026–27 school year, and that some scheduling is already underway at the high school. Several details — including exact calendar placement and class sizes — remain contingent on enrollment and final scheduling decisions. The partners urged students and parents to attend an informational question-and-answer session on Thursday, April 2 at 5 p.m. in the DeKalb County High School cafeteria.

The session will cover dual-enrollment enrollment, CNA clinical internship logistics and industry-certification expectations; further program specifics will be determined as enrollment figures and the 2026 calendar are finalized.