PTC Hosts Common In-Service Day for Educational Professionals

The Piedmont Education & Business Alliance recently hosted its eighth annual Guidance Standards and Career Development Workshop at Piedmont Technical College. The event drew nearly 100 school counselors and career development professionals from 10 school districts in Abbeville, Clinton, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Ninety Six, Saluda and Ware Shoals.

The event was begun to allow schools, colleges and communities to collaborate on improving the implementation of the S.C. Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005.

The sessions provided a variety of topics from virtual schools and family influence in career training to stress management for teachers and creative counseling techniques. The sessions divided into four categories based on the needs of the participants – elementary school, middle school, high school and all grade levels. The workshop also included the opportunity for participants to learn more about the current workplace through tours of the Greenwood Genetic Center Mobile Lab.

Linda Sheffield, director/regional career specialist for the alliance, helped plan the event, along with a team of career guidance counselors from each of the school districts in the seven-county area.

Robert Koch, logistics manager for Ascend Performance Materials, welcomed the group and expressed appreciation for their outstanding work with students. Beginning the day’s activities was Tip Frank, a recently retired school counselor who currently works in private counseling with children and teens.

The workshop was joined by the Guidance Advisory Council. The Council normally holds meetings each fall and spring to provide guidance counselors with information and updates on policies, programs and procedures at Piedmont Tech. This information was presented in a session hosted by Steve Coleman, director of College Outreach.

“By training with guidance counselors and district occupational instructors, we are working to help the schools with dropout prevention and to ensure that the counties we serve have a better-prepared workforce,” said Sheffield.

Photo Caption: Tip Frank, a retired school counselor and licensed family counselor, was the keynote speaker at the eighth annual Guidance Standards and Career Development Workshop at Piedmont Technical College. The event was begun to allow schools, colleges and communities to collaborate on improving the implementation of the S.C. Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005.