JOHN COFFELTEditor

More than 50 area professionals participated in a joint middle school career fair Oct. 25 held at Coffee County Middle School.

Organized by Coffee County Schools’ Career and Technical Education department and Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the event included presenters ranging from military and industry to local business owners, who spoke to seventh and eighth graders from county and Manchester City Schools.

Organizer Richard Skipper, Director of CTE, said that the career fair helped participating students make informed choices when looking at a career path.

“In Coffee County I feel very fortunate because we have 26 different programs of study,” Skipper said.

The basics of career exploration is built in the sixth grade, with inroads being made into elementary school, so the students are prepared to choose three careers that they are interested in for the career fair.

“Putting all that together and figuring out what their interest is, they go in a pick the top three areas that they are interested in… so the presenters (know that) kids selected their field,” Skipper said.

Skipper said the department works under the motto, “we want kids who get to go to work, not those who have to go to work.”

It’s about pairing students’ interests with a career field that the can flourish in.

The initiative in CTE has shifted from accomplishing a diverse collection of programs to zeroing in on placing students into the correct field.

“Our sole plan is we want kids to figure out what they enjoy, and what job field can line up with that,” Skipper said. “That is the true measure of success.”

Over the years, the career fair has grown beyond its original location at Manchester First Baptist Church to the school with a bell schedule and ready-set classrooms.

Manchester Chamber Executive Director Katy Riddle said her goal was to get students in front of the business professionals who actually do the jobs that the kids have shown interest in.

“A lot of us as professionals are in jobs that we either did not know existed or fell into one way or another,” Riddle said. “I think it’s really great at this middle school level to give them this exposure.”

Reese’s Genes Boutique owner Tiffany Hoyne was one presenter during the event.

“It was a great experience, and being able to talk to the kids and let them know that it’s ok to not know what you want to do,” Hoyne said.

“Coming out of high school, there are so many things that I’ve done over the years that have led me to the position I’m at now,” she added.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.