LCS Recognized at Gov. Pillen Event
Launch the media gallery 1 playerLeigh Community School’s Mrs. Brianne Bachman was recently invited to speak at a ceremony held by Gov. Jim Pillen that celebrated Manufacturing in Nebraska and the education necessary to promote jobs in manufacturing, science, and technology.
The conference was held at Cargill in Schuyler on October 23, and Gov. Pillen declared October as Manufacturing Month in Nebraska. Pillen cited federal labor data which said that Nebraska’a manufacturing employment is at its highest point since 2001 with over 100,000 jobs and 4,333 jobs added this year alone.
Several speakers spoke about developing Nebraska’s Workforce through education.
At the event, instructors from Central Community College spoke about their Independent Mechatronics Education Curriculum (iMEC), which is helping equip area students for careers in manufacturing. The curriculum is being provided in 18 high schools across Nebraska, including Leigh, which is one of the smallest schools offering iMEC.
Mrs. Brianne Bachman, who teaches science at LCS, was instrumental in bringing the iMEC (Mechatronics) program to Leigh. She took coursework through CCC last summer to gain training on how to use the equipment that her students now learn on in class.
“I jumped at the opportunity to help facilitate this program,” Bachman said. “The experiences students gain because CCC is able to offer iMEC in small, rural schools is an opportunity like no other. Leigh Schools have many partnerships with CCC, but his one is a real feather in our caps.”
Leigh Superintendent Mr. Cole Fischer said, “We are very excited to offer Mechatronics this year at LCS. We really pursued this partnership with CCC because we always want to be looking at new and innovative ways we can provide opportunities to our students and make them college and career-ready. This program is another great addition to our STEM curriculum and utilizes the STEM space we have in our new building. A huge credit is due to Mrs. Bachman for completing the necessary training to help make this opportunity possible!”