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There is a workforce pipeline in the Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS). The career readiness team, led by Lindsey McCormick, Director of College and Career Readiness, wants to work with Caroline County employers to fill a labor market gap and support higher level students’ careers paths.
This was the call to action at a May 14, 2025, presentation, “Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Partnering with Schools for Career Connected Learning.”
A workforce pipeline
There are just over 5,600 students, grades 1 – 12, in Caroline County Public Schools (CCPS). An employer could look at that data as an available workforce pipeline in a short-, medium-, and long-term horizon.
CCPS recognizes that a certain population of students will be college bound immediately out of high school, some students will continue education through part-time college or trade schools, and another percentage will move right into the workforce upon graduation. The focus of the career readiness team is to provide students who will move into the workforce with training, tools, and connections for successful employment.
“Learning about work through work for work.”
Career readiness is ingrained into instruction, providing students with an understanding that classroom teaching has application post-high school. The key component in that instruction is participation by the business community. The input from employers helps to enforce the messaging from instructors. Eric Cook, Coordinator of Career Readiness, noted that business partners help inform not just the technical aspects of a workplace, but the “soft skills” that make a successful employee. Students will be successful employees when they learn about time management, people skills, dedication, and communication.
Opportunities for involvement
Cook said that students are more likely to look for and find jobs with employers that the students have a connection with. The awareness of the variety of employers, types of jobs, skills required, training or educational requirements, comes directly from students talking with and seeing employers in their back yards.
Cook read from the slide presentation, “A young person who has four or more meaningful encounters with an employer is 86% less likely to be unemployed or not in education, employment, or training … and can earn up to 22% more during their career.”
Cook outlined ways to engage with CCPS and the students:
Participation in a partnership with CCPS can be at a level of time and resources that best suit the business. Some employers connect with students through HR departments, some through supervisors and managers, and some business owners are the lead partner. Cook said that the partnerships are mutually beneficial to students and employers.
Not your father’s apprenticeship
Apprenticeships have been getting attention over the last several years as a segment of state and federal workforce development policies. At its basic level, there are two distinct apprenticeship programs available to Maryland employers: Registered Apprenticeship and Youth Apprenticeship. Both programs share outcomes: trained workers for employers and paid training for employees.
The Youth Apprenticeship program through CCPS has been in place for seven years. The first Youth Apprentice was to be placed with Midshore Technologies Services in March 2020, literally the day before COVID shutdowns. The placement was delayed for 18 months.
Cook emphasized that he is “not Eric Cook’s placement service,” in noting that apprentices are employees foremost. The employer’s policies apply to an apprentice, and if at any time either party acknowledges that the job situation isn’t working, the job ends. His role is to prepare the student and connect with the employer. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t work out, and that’s ok, Cook said. Going through the practical aspects of apprenticeship is a learning opportunity for the student that can inform and influence future work decisions.
Cook moderated a panel of employers and apprentices to share their experiences with the program. Rick Breeding, owner of Rick Breeding Excavating, said that the two apprentices that he brought on in 2024 are hard workers, quick to learn, and valuable to the operation. He said that when the students have a good understanding of what they want to do, it makes the apprenticeship go more smoothly.
Bri Rutkowski, owner of Craft Bakery & Café, has two apprentices, who support each other in their training and work. She shared advice to employers considering taking in a youth apprentice: remember these are high schoolers. They have not had the life experience in the workplace yet, and part of the goal as a business who hires a young person should be to mentor beyond the technical aspects of the job.
Chris Ireland, who was the first ever apprentice for CCPS, and was placed almost five years ago, continues to work for Midshore Technologies Services. He was recommended as an apprentice by a CCPS computer sciences teacher, and he recently was the mentor for the latest apprentice. He feels that his pathway with instruction through CCPS and real-life experience as an apprentice was the best choice for him. He encourages businesses and students to participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Meet them where they are
McCormick is excited for a tool that her team has in making student-employer connections – the Career Van. The passenger van is used to take small groups of students to employers for onsite visits. Since it has been put into service in January 2025, student groups have logged almost 1500 miles to employers all over Caroline County and beyond. These field trips expose students to the job opportunities, showing real life applications to classroom education. Students engage with the host businesses, ask questions, and come away with knowledge that helps them to decide their paths.
Reaching the vision
CCPS is guided by its vision: “We envision that every student will be prepared, empowered and inspired to thrive in an ever-changing and diverse world.” McCormick and the Career Readiness team want to work with businesses in partnership to realize that vision for the students who live and learn in Caroline County.
