ACT Ready for Work
Podcast Episode 20
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
What more can adult education programs be doing to prepare participants for career success? As the job market continues to evolve, more and more learners rely on these programs to educate them on financial literacy, career awareness skills, class management systems, sector strategies, and countless other workforce-related topics.
Smart Start, a program of the Office of Adult Education at the Mississippi Community College Board, is taking the initiative by equipping its participants with vital career readiness skills and credentials. Smart Start Project Specialist Bronwyn Robertson is hopeful that this program will continue to close the gap between worker supply and demand.
Founded upon ACT® WorkKeys® Curriculum, Smart Start is a 45-hour intensive course that teaches participants how to apply their specialized skills beyond high school. Students also have the opportunity to earn their ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®). Robertson and her team agree that earning these credentials is critical—particularly for those 350,000 Mississippi residents who do not have their high school diploma.
“The Smart Start program through the Office of Adult Education is a career pathway,” shares Robertson. “At the end of the day, we are all trying to provide every Mississippian the opportunity to secure employment.”
With over 6,200 Smart Start credentials offered since 2016, it’s clear that Mississippi’s adult education initiative has made a lasting impact on the success of its participants. Tune in to Episode 20 and hear more about how Mississippi’s Smart Start plan is empowering current and future jobseekers.
“We are equipping our students with every resource possible so that when they leave the adult education programs, we know that we have prepared them for the workforce. I commend ACT WorkKeys Curriculum for a lot of that.”
– Bronwyn Robertson
Bronwyn Robertson
About Bronwyn Robertson
Bronwyn Robertson is a Program Specialist for Adult Education at the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) and coordinates Mississippi Smart Start. Prior to joining MCCB in 2018, Bronwyn was a Career Pathway Transition Specialist for 14 years at Holmes Community College. Bronwyn has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Capella University and degrees from Mississippi State University and Holmes Community College.
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