Shortage of skilled workforce is the #1 challenge for Manufacturers, the Trades and Medical fields
In Hutchinson, we have the answer to the skilled workforce shortage. It’s called TigerPath.
What is it?
TigerPath is an innovative initiative focused on enhancing educational pathways and opportunities for high-school students. The program aims to provide students with clear, structured pathways to explore their interests, develop relevant skills, and prepare for future career opportunities. Through TigerPath, students have access to a wide range of career-focused courses, industry certifications, and experiential learning opportunities aligned with their career interests. The program emphasizes collaboration between educators, industry partners, and the community to ensure that students receive comprehensive support and guidance throughout their academic journey. TigerPath actively engages students, parents, and stakeholders in the process of shaping and improving educational pathways for all students at Hutchinson High School.
To summarize, TigerPath is:
Discovering Talent, Developing Skills, Building Careers
Who’s partnering to make this happen?
Hutchinson High School, the Hutchinson Economic Development Authority, the Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, Ridgewater College and over 25 local businesses / manufacturers.
How is TigerPath being implemented?
We’re employing six strategies to bring TigerPath to life:
STRATEGY 1: Realign high school education by implementing the TigerPath Academies – a career academy model of education designed to help students discover their talents, develop their skills and build rewarding careers based on their own interests and aptitudes.
At Hutchinson High School, every student is a TigerPath student, every teacher is a TigerPath teacher, every class is a TigerPath class.
Our career academies:
STRATEGY 2: Build seamless educational pathways between high school and college so high-school students can earn free college credit and industry-recognized credentials.
STRATEGY 3: Change outdated stereotypes about manufacturing, education & career choices, and gender in the workforce.
STRATEGY 4: Build school-employer relationships through tours, classroom visits, job fairs, job shadowing, internships, etc.
STRATEGY 5: Dramatically upgrade technical education facilities and equipment at Hutchinson high school to change stereotypes students and parents have of manufacturing, get students inspired and excited about technical education and careers, and provide first-class, real-world equipment for students to train on.
At more than 13,000 square feet, Hutchinson High School’s Center for Technical Excellence is the best equipped, most advanced technical education facility in Minnesota.
STRATEGY 6: Launch Tiger Manufacturing – an authentic manufacturing business based in the high school, run by students, designing and manufacturing real products for real customers. Tiger Manufacturing adds relevance to coursework, provides a realistic work experience, builds teamwork & soft skills, fosters critical thinking & problem-solving skills and teaches entrepreneurship and business operations.
The solution to the skilled workforce shortage is right in front of us: our high-school students.
Where can I learn more?
You can visit the TigerPath website to learn more.
A couple informative videos:
Success in the New Economy
By Kevin J. Fleming, PhD
Every student and every parent should watch this video.
Attracting New Skilled Manufacturers
Please Note: Several people shown in the video have moved to new roles since the video was made, but the ideas are still the same
