BATON ROUGE, La. – Four Livingston Parish High Schools have been honored for their exemplary efforts in workforce development by the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance (GBRIA), which was established nearly 20 years ago to promote innovative solutions to local industry issues.
Live Oak High School was given an Excellence Award, Doyle High School received an Award of Merit, and Albany High School and Walker High School both received Recognition Awards.
Each school offers craft Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that teach students hands-on, practical skills for specific jobs and future careers. The recognized programs may include traditional CTE pathways, pre-engineering, and PTEC programs. GBRIA evaluates school programs through an application process and in-person presentations.
“We are proud to recognize the schools that inspire and prepare students, the contractors who invest in training and career development, and the plants that support these efforts," said GBRIA CEO Connie Fabre. “Together, their dedication ensures that the industrial community in our region has the skilled talent it needs to thrive.”
Livingston Parish Schools’ CTE Coordinator Brandi Desselle said the program identifies best practices across the state.
“We are so proud that four of our programs rose to these highest levels of recognition,” Desselle said.
Each year, the GBRIA’s Workforce Development Awards highlight critical real-world partnerships between local educators and regional industrial facilities that keep Southeast Louisiana’s talent pipeline strong and thriving.
Local contract firms and industrial plants nominate high schools whose career and technical education (CTE) programs were exemplary in their engagement with parents, fundraising, enlisting support to reinforce training, sharing student success stories, and explaining the value of the CTE programs to their school, community, and students. Judges review the applications and score presentations to determine if each school is performing at an exemplary level.
Live Oak High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors, LLC; Doyle High School was nominated by Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC; Albany High School was nominated by EXCEL Group; and Walker High School was nominated by Performance Contractors, Cajun Industries, and ISC Constructors, LLC.
The GBRIA Workforce Development Awards program was established in 2007 through a joint effort by its Contractor Workforce Development Committee, Board of Directors, and local contractors. The program is designed to promote best practices that improve the skills and retention of craft personnel across the region, and to recognize the contractors, schools, educators, and individuals who are making it happen.
