NY School's Innovation Center Trains Workers for Real Jobs

High school students and adults in Jamestown, New York are learning real job skills in the same classroom, and local employers are lining up to hire them.

The Innovation Center at Rogers School just renewed its partnership with Jamestown Community College to offer free adult carpentry training. Classes run four evenings a week, taught by a high school technology teacher named Daryl Damcott.

The program launched in 2023 as an extension of Jamestown High School's technology classes. Now it's growing into something bigger: a place where students as young as elementary age can explore different careers before choosing their path.

"We are working to build programs that connect hands-on instruction with the skills and employment opportunities available throughout our region," said Dr. Kevin Whitaker, the school district's superintendent. The center now offers aviation, welding, and construction training.

Nicole Marino just joined as the center's first assistant principal and program administrator. She's already meeting with local manufacturers like El Greco and Blackstone to understand what skills they need in new hires.

The Ripple Effect

This model solves two problems at once. Local businesses struggle to find trained workers while students graduate unsure what careers exist in their hometown.

Middle schoolers get to explore different fields without commitment. High school students can dive deeper into apprenticeships and mentorships. Adults who need new skills can train in the evenings without quitting their day jobs.

The Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier has become a key partner, helping shape programs around actual job openings. Students aren't just learning abstract skills. They're preparing for positions that exist right now.

The goal isn't pushing kids into careers too early. It's showing them possibilities they didn't know existed and helping them graduate with clear next steps.

One classroom is creating pathways from curiosity to career, keeping talent and opportunity in the same community.