1 00:00:00,210 --> 00:00:05,210 Intro: The following program is brought to you by the Tennessee Broadband Association. 2 00:00:05,210 --> 00:00:10,530 Lead Tennessee Radio, conversations with the leaders moving our state forward. 3 00:00:10,770 --> 00:00:18,150 We look at the issues shaping Tennessee's future: rural development, public policy, broadband, 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,770 health care, and other topics impacting our communities. 5 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:28,410 Carrie Huckeby: Hello. I'm Carrie Huckeby, executive director of the Tennessee Broadband Association. 6 00:00:28,430 --> 00:00:35,930 We have as our guest today Shirley Brown-Harrison, who is the senior instructor of electromechanical electronic 7 00:00:35,930 --> 00:00:40,580 systems and telecommunications at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Hohenwald. 8 00:00:40,580 --> 00:00:47,810 And while Shirley has over two decades of experience in industrial electronics, including being the first female 9 00:00:47,810 --> 00:00:53,330 industrial maintenance technician to work at Crossville Ceramics back in the early 2000s. 10 00:00:53,510 --> 00:00:55,270 Then she switched to teaching. 11 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,590 She's been teaching full time since 2006. 12 00:00:58,610 --> 00:01:00,350 Shirley, thanks for joining me. 13 00:01:01,670 --> 00:01:02,930 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Thank you for having me, Carrie. 14 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:10,640 Carrie Huckeby: So let's start the conversation with giving us an overview of the telecommunication program at TCAT, how long it's been offered, 15 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:12,650 and an overview of what you do. 16 00:01:13,650 --> 00:01:17,550 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Sure. We'll start with the mission of the program. 17 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:24,510 It is to prepare students for gainful employment in a telecommunications field by providing students with fundamental 18 00:01:24,510 --> 00:01:31,860 theories, principles, experiments and real world experiences in the telecommunications industry. 19 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:38,400 Students will learn through hands on applications, utilizing trainers and real world projects. 20 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:47,430 In the first term, students will study several courses, including intro to telecommunications, copper and fiber 21 00:01:47,430 --> 00:01:51,540 optic based systems and telephony. 22 00:01:51,540 --> 00:01:56,970 And in these courses they can earn industry certifications from C-TECH. 23 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:06,250 Students will also study customer service, orientation and safety and worker characteristics. 24 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:15,250 They will earn a certification through their safety and customer service as 25 00:02:15,250 --> 00:02:20,320 well. We all understand how important those are on the job. 26 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,730 The second term concentrates more on the computer side of things. 27 00:02:25,810 --> 00:02:33,520 Concentrates on hardware, software such as Windows, Mac, Linux, storage, networking system 28 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,520 management, file management. 29 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:44,470 All things that have to do with the computer side of the responsibilities of 30 00:02:44,470 --> 00:02:47,870 a telecommunications technician. 31 00:02:47,870 --> 00:02:54,340 And we utilize a system that called Testout and prepares them to take their CompTIA A+ 32 00:02:55,120 --> 00:03:02,680 certification. The third and final term students will study practical applications to include satellite 33 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:10,420 fundamentals, smart technology systems, audio, video and security surveillance, coupled with practical 34 00:03:10,420 --> 00:03:16,930 applications. And they also can earn more certifications through C-TECH, 35 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:24,700 SBCA Satellite and ETA for the STS certifications. 36 00:03:26,390 --> 00:03:29,570 Carrie Huckeby: There's a lot packed into that program, isn't there? 37 00:03:30,950 --> 00:03:33,980 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Yes, ma'am. It's a year long. 38 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,130 It's 12 months in length, 1,296 compact hours. 39 00:03:39,140 --> 00:03:45,110 But it is very fast paced, a lot going on. 40 00:03:45,110 --> 00:03:47,770 But students, there's a lot of hands on. 41 00:03:47,780 --> 00:03:53,960 And students generally, they absolutely love that side of things, the hands on side. 42 00:03:54,650 --> 00:04:00,560 Carrie Huckeby: Yeah. It's more fun to learn hands on versus reading or lecture, I'm sure. 43 00:04:01,370 --> 00:04:06,740 So I'm curious, where did your interest in telecommunications technology begin? 44 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:15,050 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Well, you know, I've taught electromechanical for a long time, and 45 00:04:16,730 --> 00:04:19,740 I'm now teaching electronic systems, but I used to teach it. 46 00:04:19,740 --> 00:04:21,920 And then I kind of went more just electromechanical and then back. 47 00:04:22,340 --> 00:04:28,140 So there's a lot of overlap between the programs. 48 00:04:28,140 --> 00:04:36,020 And the overlap, I mean, things that are in common and before telecommunications, you know, I'd 49 00:04:36,020 --> 00:04:43,690 say my real passion was in electromechanical with the industrial equipment and 50 00:04:43,690 --> 00:04:50,870 the automation – the automated computer side of things. 51 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:59,120 And with that, it's you're being trained to be a maintenance technician, but you also 52 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:04,930 have to understand IP addresses and networking, and then some of that math. 53 00:05:04,930 --> 00:05:07,610 And is this cable good? 54 00:05:08,540 --> 00:05:16,370 You know, just all the things that even though it's industrial, it's still computers and part of the telecommunications world. 55 00:05:16,370 --> 00:05:24,230 So, you know, having kind of grown with computer 56 00:05:26,630 --> 00:05:34,200 s throughout my years of teaching, you know, I just that's really where the interest 57 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:38,460 stemmed. Just wanting to learn and understand more about those areas. 58 00:05:40,380 --> 00:05:42,690 Carrie Huckeby: Right. Because it's very foundational. 59 00:05:42,690 --> 00:05:49,890 You know, if you start with all of that, then there's so many directions that you go if you have a good understanding of 60 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,200 how all that works. 61 00:05:52,380 --> 00:05:56,970 How do you get the word out about the telecommunication program? 62 00:05:57,180 --> 00:06:04,710 How early do you get into the high schools to be able to to talk about the program or any of your TCAT options? 63 00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:10,620 Shirley Brown-Harrison: You know, we have a recruiter at TCAT. 64 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,600 We just hired another recruiter. 65 00:06:17,310 --> 00:06:21,950 So we're approaching it from that side of things. 66 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:26,130 I know we have some college fairs already scheduled at the high schools. 67 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:36,750 So before this year, dual enrollment was open for 68 00:06:36,750 --> 00:06:38,700 juniors and seniors only. 69 00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:44,550 And so we certainly tried to target them to come to class. 70 00:06:44,550 --> 00:06:51,600 And hopefully, you know, when they come, they'll get exposed to the program and continue on after high school. 71 00:06:53,280 --> 00:07:01,200 But last year or either earlier this year, legislation changed where we're going to actually dual enroll from ninth 72 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,150 grade to 12th grade. 73 00:07:03,150 --> 00:07:07,260 So that's kind of change our strategy a little bit. 74 00:07:07,590 --> 00:07:14,250 Also, it upped the funding because there was only so much grant funding available for dual enrollment. 75 00:07:14,250 --> 00:07:16,680 So that's kind of changed our strategy a little bit. 76 00:07:18,030 --> 00:07:21,740 But, you know, so we're constantly doing those things. 77 00:07:21,740 --> 00:07:24,380 Our recruiters are. 78 00:07:24,380 --> 00:07:28,740 I'm trying to recruit all I can, you know, by word of mouth. 79 00:07:28,740 --> 00:07:36,420 And just for example, this week, our Louis County CTE director is Ms. 80 00:07:36,420 --> 00:07:43,380 Trina Weeks was on campus with our financial aid director, and they 81 00:07:44,250 --> 00:07:48,860 invited me in to brainstorm some ideas about how to increase high school dual enrollment. 82 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:56,550 And, you know, last year during the height of the pandemic, I created a 83 00:07:56,550 --> 00:08:03,240 video. I never really thought about it, but it made a lot of sense. 84 00:08:03,540 --> 00:08:09,840 My husband teaches eighth grade social studies, and he said we can't have – because of COVID. 85 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,080 We have career day, and we cannot have people come in the class. 86 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,810 Could you make me a video, you know, highlighting your programs? 87 00:08:16,810 --> 00:08:18,010 And I said, sure. 88 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,980 So I did that. 89 00:08:20,980 --> 00:08:28,750 In the pandemic, we purchased all GoPros, all the instructors were, and so went around and made some short 90 00:08:28,750 --> 00:08:36,600 video clips. And then our IT guy, he is great to be able to put that all together and made 91 00:08:36,610 --> 00:08:39,730 about 20 minutes long video. 92 00:08:39,730 --> 00:08:41,460 And so I had that idea. 93 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:49,360 I thought for a while, we're just missing the boat per say with our high school 94 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:56,410 students. I mean, and just with the public in general, because we have the digital age right at our fingertips. 95 00:08:56,410 --> 00:09:01,000 But I just felt like we weren't utilizing it as much as we should have. 96 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,280 So that was my suggestion to her. 97 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:09,850 And I explained to her what we did with the video and even shared it with her, and she was all on board. 98 00:09:09,850 --> 00:09:11,110 She's contacted me. 99 00:09:11,110 --> 00:09:14,260 She's going to buy her people GoPros, she's showing videos everywhere. 100 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:22,810 And then we are tasked at the TCATs in September, 101 00:09:23,290 --> 00:09:31,060 I think our deadline, is to make a recruiting video for the school, not just for my programs. 102 00:09:31,060 --> 00:09:37,900 So we're constantly doing stuff like that, social media, 103 00:09:38,230 --> 00:09:40,240 tours. And that's what she said. 104 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:41,740 She said, you know, the tours are great. 105 00:09:41,740 --> 00:09:48,130 We can bring students on campus, but there's so much going on, and we have such a limited time. 106 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:51,640 It's a much better captive audience with something like this. 107 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:57,250 So I really think that's going to pay a lot of dividends in the future. 108 00:09:58,570 --> 00:10:06,130 Carrie Huckeby: I think it's great that you can go in at ninth grade now because I think the sooner you can start 109 00:10:06,130 --> 00:10:12,580 presenting those options and those careers and get their interest, the better. 110 00:10:12,580 --> 00:10:14,620 And of course, I always love video. 111 00:10:14,830 --> 00:10:19,860 You know, in today's time, we tend to like video so much better than reading. 112 00:10:19,860 --> 00:10:22,300 And you do a good job on your social media. 113 00:10:22,330 --> 00:10:28,660 I follow you. So, you know, I don't think there's any one way to get the word out. 114 00:10:28,660 --> 00:10:31,270 So it's good that you're using all of those. 115 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:39,520 We do hear in the news a lot today about educational cost and student loans and that there are other options out there versus 116 00:10:39,910 --> 00:10:42,430 whether it's academic or trade. 117 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,850 Tell us a little bit about the cost of the telecommunications program. 118 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,110 You said it's a 12 month, 1,296 hour program. 119 00:10:50,470 --> 00:10:55,270 Tell us about the cost and how the Tennessee Promise applies to that. 120 00:10:56,830 --> 00:11:04,180 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Yes, the total program cost is $5,615. 121 00:11:05,290 --> 00:11:13,210 So breaking that down, that is for $4,008 for a year of tuition and 122 00:11:14,110 --> 00:11:20,320 a little over $1,600 for books and supplies. 123 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,530 So, yes, the Tennessee Promise. 124 00:11:23,530 --> 00:11:26,530 We are an eligible institution for the Tennessee Promise. 125 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:35,040 I do want to mention that as you had inquired about student loans and asking about did we offer those. 126 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,850 We do not offer student loans. 127 00:11:37,510 --> 00:11:43,780 So the TCAT system, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in general, we do not offer student loans. 128 00:11:44,260 --> 00:11:49,120 So most everyone that comes here has some funding. 129 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,110 There's very few that pay all out of pocket. 130 00:11:53,110 --> 00:11:54,730 Some might have to pay a little. 131 00:11:54,730 --> 00:12:00,130 But grant funding wise, it's paid for. 132 00:12:00,130 --> 00:12:01,300 So I'll give you an example. 133 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:09,160 I looked up the Tennessee Promise eligibility requirements and of course, our graduating seniors of the class of 134 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,340 2023, they have a deadline. 135 00:12:12,340 --> 00:12:17,230 So in November 1st, they have to apply for the Tennessee Promise scholarship. 136 00:12:19,870 --> 00:12:27,640 March 1st, they have to have applied for the FAFSA, the free application for student financial aid. 137 00:12:28,810 --> 00:12:33,070 They have to complete 8 hours of community service by a deadline. 138 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:41,230 And then by the spring of next year, they have to apply to enroll in a class. 139 00:12:41,230 --> 00:12:45,400 So that means basically they'll fill out the application online and get on a waiting list. 140 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:51,940 So pell grants, that is federal money. 141 00:12:51,940 --> 00:12:59,500 And when they fill out their FAFSA, it basically looks at all their grant funding 142 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:07,260 options. And so if a student qualifies for full pell, we would still call that the 143 00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:13,470 promise, but that would be an amount of $6,895 a year. 144 00:13:13,470 --> 00:13:18,990 So we do have some students that do qualify for that based on their parents income and that kind of thing. 145 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:26,250 So if that's the case, this student would have $1,280 left. 146 00:13:27,420 --> 00:13:32,350 So they would actually have school paid for and almost $1,300 dollars left. 147 00:13:32,370 --> 00:13:35,400 Now, that's all split over three terms. 148 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:36,740 It's divvied up. 149 00:13:36,750 --> 00:13:43,110 But, they could actually, and I mean, I have one in my class right now, who qualifies for full pell 150 00:13:43,740 --> 00:13:46,590 and gets money back. 151 00:13:47,010 --> 00:13:48,840 So that's not uncommon. 152 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:51,570 Just depends on their financial circumstances. 153 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,950 Carrie Huckeby: Well, it's always nice to have money left versus owing money, right? 154 00:13:56,610 --> 00:14:00,440 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Oh, absolutely. And they can use that money however they want to. 155 00:14:00,450 --> 00:14:03,810 They can use it for their living expenses, their gas, food, whatever. 156 00:14:05,670 --> 00:14:07,470 So they can do that. 157 00:14:07,620 --> 00:14:11,310 I also wanted to mention the Tennessee Reconnect. 158 00:14:12,150 --> 00:14:17,040 That is for adults that are 23 and older. 159 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:25,490 And it is $2,000 a year and 160 00:14:25,490 --> 00:14:32,840 then our part of the lottery scholarship, which is called the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, 161 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:35,030 is $2,000 a year. 162 00:14:35,030 --> 00:14:42,800 So I spoke to financial aid and they said between those two, if they're an adult student and basically they have not 163 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:47,420 used those monies before, then they can get every bit of their tuition paid. 164 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:51,610 And they're pretty much they'll just owe their books and supplies. 165 00:14:51,610 --> 00:14:59,030 And that's really the same for the Tennessee Promise, even if a student does not qualify for any other 166 00:14:59,420 --> 00:15:07,100 aid above tuition, it at least guarantees tuition is paid for incoming seniors. 167 00:15:08,030 --> 00:15:14,420 Carrie Huckeby: I think that's a really good point about the Tennessee Reconnect, because we do talk a lot about getting in the high schools. 168 00:15:14,420 --> 00:15:21,050 But there are older students that are looking for new careers or want to do something different. 169 00:15:21,050 --> 00:15:28,970 And there is such a workforce shortage right now in telecommunications that that's a great opportunity to 170 00:15:28,970 --> 00:15:32,810 do something different if you're looking for a new direction. 171 00:15:33,350 --> 00:15:34,220 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Absolutely. 172 00:15:34,730 --> 00:15:37,790 Carrie Huckeby: So how many students have completed the telecommunications program? 173 00:15:39,170 --> 00:15:43,730 Shirley Brown-Harrison: So since it started, it's a fairly new program. 174 00:15:43,730 --> 00:15:47,320 I went back and was thinking about this. 175 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:55,310 We have 11 completers, and of those 11 one 176 00:15:55,310 --> 00:16:01,310 changed career paths, and he will be starting in the EMT program in the fall, which is fine. 177 00:16:01,310 --> 00:16:03,380 You know, we have students come in, they're young. 178 00:16:03,620 --> 00:16:06,590 He was 17. You know, he didn't know what he wanted to do. 179 00:16:06,950 --> 00:16:14,570 And so he decided he wanted to switch programs, but he still earned enough credentials here that he's a completer. 180 00:16:14,570 --> 00:16:15,710 One, went to work. 181 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:23,390 So looking at our numbers, we have a 91% completion rate since we started and a 90% 182 00:16:23,390 --> 00:16:26,750 went to work in a related field. 183 00:16:26,750 --> 00:16:28,100 Carrie Huckeby: Wow, that's good. 184 00:16:28,130 --> 00:16:35,810 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Yeah. So I mean, we typically I mean, our accreditation agency, which 185 00:16:36,050 --> 00:16:43,760 is COE or the Council on Occupational Education, we're in the middle of our 186 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:51,170 accreditation process right now, but every year we have to report for them, we have to have 60% of our 187 00:16:51,170 --> 00:16:56,300 students have to complete and that is at least to a certificate or diploma level. 188 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:02,720 70% of those 60% have to go to work in a related field. 189 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:07,220 If they pursue additional education that counts as that or goes to military. 190 00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:14,300 So basically, we don't keep our jobs if we're not putting people to work in the related field. 191 00:17:14,310 --> 00:17:21,410 So everything I'm doing is trying to train them to go to work in the telecom industry. 192 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:30,170 Carrie Huckeby: Well, do you help students actually find jobs or do you find that employers tend to reach out to you and say, do you have 193 00:17:30,170 --> 00:17:33,230 anybody qualified or ready to graduate? 194 00:17:34,380 --> 00:17:40,490 Shirley Brown-Harrison: You know, it's a little of both, but there's not a shortage of people contacting me. 195 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:42,470 They'll email me. 196 00:17:42,470 --> 00:17:44,890 They'll call. 197 00:17:44,890 --> 00:17:51,470 I make contacts like when we attended the Tennessee Broadband Association, I made contacts there. 198 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:58,640 I saw an ad in the paper this week, my local paper. 199 00:17:58,730 --> 00:18:02,660 So I had a student that was working for that company, so I called him. 200 00:18:02,660 --> 00:18:04,150 "Hey, can I get the lowdown? 201 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:09,350 What's going on there?" And so there's all kinds of ways. 202 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:17,150 So there's never any I guess, what we'll say, there's never any guarantees that there will be things available when students 203 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:25,100 graduate. But in today's time, you know, I'm still ramping up the program, so I'm not putting out – 204 00:18:25,310 --> 00:18:28,310 there's way more need than the students I have to put out. 205 00:18:28,310 --> 00:18:31,520 So that's where we have to come back on the front end. 206 00:18:31,850 --> 00:18:36,080 And what we spoke about earlier, focus on recruiting and getting the word out. 207 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:43,550 "Hey, this is something you can do." And one thing I spoke to the CTE director about this week 208 00:18:43,550 --> 00:18:51,110 was high school students could actually come in and do those fiber and 209 00:18:51,110 --> 00:18:58,310 copper and some of the the first term – which those are all those are all industry recognized 210 00:18:58,310 --> 00:19:06,020 certifications that are on the approved list for the Tennessee Department of Education that will be paid for. 211 00:19:06,020 --> 00:19:12,410 I've lobbied and pushed for those to be on that list, so they will pay for all of those supplies. 212 00:19:12,530 --> 00:19:20,450 And so they can not only get high school credit, your college credit, certifications, and they could 213 00:19:20,450 --> 00:19:28,220 potentially just graduate high school and go to work in the telecom industry because they would already have the necessary 214 00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:28,880 skills. 215 00:19:28,970 --> 00:19:30,050 Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, great. 216 00:19:30,050 --> 00:19:38,000 So I think my next question was about some of the challenges that you face, or you think about and you've mentioned 217 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:43,460 a few of those that finding students and recruiting and getting them into the program. 218 00:19:43,610 --> 00:19:51,260 Are there other things, equipment, awareness, and we touched on awareness a little bit, but are there other 219 00:19:51,260 --> 00:19:58,790 things that challenge you with the program that you have problems you have to solve to keep things running? 220 00:20:00,250 --> 00:20:01,640 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Yeah, absolutely. 221 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,340 I think there's always challenges. 222 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:12,920 So one of things I thought about with this question was we got contacted, I don't know, several 223 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:18,610 months ago by a company that was wanting us to 224 00:20:18,610 --> 00:20:26,580 partner with them to be the educational piece 225 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:29,910 of a government approved co-op. 226 00:20:31,380 --> 00:20:39,210 And once I really got to looking at what they wanted, it was more tower climbing 227 00:20:39,210 --> 00:20:40,590 and wireless. 228 00:20:40,590 --> 00:20:43,550 And it's a little different slant. 229 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,560 You know, it's a different outcome than what we're doing now. 230 00:20:46,590 --> 00:20:54,480 Now, I understand that's a need for the telecom industry, but we had to come back and say, you know, 231 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,670 that's not what we're doing right now. 232 00:20:56,700 --> 00:21:02,610 You know, that's, you know, we had to kind of say that's not what we're doing. 233 00:21:02,610 --> 00:21:06,630 So I don't know who's doing that, but that's not what we're specifically teaching. 234 00:21:07,620 --> 00:21:10,890 So that's one thing that I think about as a hurdle. 235 00:21:12,930 --> 00:21:20,670 You know, I think about just trying to make sure that I'm educated in the industry and know what 236 00:21:20,670 --> 00:21:23,610 equipment industry is using. 237 00:21:23,610 --> 00:21:30,830 And so we're working some things to try to purchase some of the expensive equipment like splicers 238 00:21:31,830 --> 00:21:36,360 and OTVRs because we know fiber is is the big thing right now in telecom. 239 00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:44,070 It's not the only thing, but it is probably the biggest thing going on right now. 240 00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:51,480 So just trying to make sure that they are as prepared as possible when they go out into industry. 241 00:21:52,380 --> 00:21:54,000 Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, that makes sense. 242 00:21:54,840 --> 00:22:02,640 When you stepped into the role as the instructor of the telecommunications program, you were probably thinking more about 243 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,050 the immediate need. 244 00:22:04,170 --> 00:22:11,760 You know, the class needed an instructor, but now that you've been doing it a little while, where would you like to see the 245 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,360 program three years from now or five years from now? 246 00:22:17,110 --> 00:22:24,680 Shirley Brown-Harrison: I would like to see different options like I just spoke about. 247 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:32,470 Whether it be for this other path where we partner with someone, and we know we're 248 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,910 taking care of the educational piece and they're getting on the job training for that. 249 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:41,660 I think their word is in an approved apprenticeship, I think is their term. 250 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:50,390 So I would like to have more than one path because there's certainly going to be more than you 251 00:22:50,390 --> 00:22:55,520 know. And our students take over multiple places and go to work. 252 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,190 So I'm not saying that, but I guess it's just a totally different path. 253 00:22:58,190 --> 00:23:06,050 I'd like to have at least a couple, if not more different paths that students can say, "Okay, you can choose A, B or C 254 00:23:06,410 --> 00:23:14,320 ." I would like to have the program, I mean, just full and and kind of bursting at the seams, as they say. 255 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:22,050 And so much so that I would need to hire someone to help me run it because I know that's the 256 00:23:22,050 --> 00:23:29,220 need with all the money that I see coming down to ensure that we have 257 00:23:30,420 --> 00:23:33,270 high speed Internet in the rural areas. 258 00:23:33,270 --> 00:23:36,570 We're going to need that many people in the telecom industry, I think. 259 00:23:38,530 --> 00:23:40,220 Carrie Huckeby: Yes. Yes, I agree. 260 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:47,050 You know, there's still a lot of work to be done connecting Tennesseans here and across the nation with broadband. 261 00:23:47,050 --> 00:23:50,230 And, of course, when the networks get built, they have to be maintained. 262 00:23:51,340 --> 00:23:58,180 And, you know, there is some troubleshooting and customer service that's involved in that. 263 00:23:58,180 --> 00:24:02,260 So it's definitely an industry that is growing. 264 00:24:02,260 --> 00:24:08,620 And I understand what you're saying about the different direction, because I was just talking to one of my board members 265 00:24:08,620 --> 00:24:16,570 this morning about another training program where they cover the OSHA 10, you know, the flag training for 266 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,120 right of ways, the CPR, the CDLs, chainsaw training. 267 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:28,180 So you've certainly got that outside operational, and then you've got that network side as well. 268 00:24:28,180 --> 00:24:35,470 So it's great that you're thinking about that and trying to figure out how to bring that together. 269 00:24:36,310 --> 00:24:43,420 I follow you, as I said, on social media, and you guys do a good job of that, and I see that enrollment is in full swing right 270 00:24:43,420 --> 00:24:46,600 now. How's that going for you for this upcoming term? 271 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:49,210 Shirley Brown-Harrison: It's going great. 272 00:24:49,450 --> 00:24:53,200 We're still recruiting. 273 00:24:53,580 --> 00:24:55,100 Still trying to get more. 274 00:24:55,100 --> 00:25:02,980 I have two in telecommunications, two in electronics and 275 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,380 six or seven and electromechanical. 276 00:25:05,380 --> 00:25:09,940 So, again, I'd really like to to ramp up the telecom side of things. 277 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,150 And we're just continuing to work on that. 278 00:25:14,980 --> 00:25:20,260 It just takes time once you, but I'm a firm believer. 279 00:25:20,260 --> 00:25:25,540 If you build it and you let everybody know what you built, they will come. 280 00:25:26,380 --> 00:25:28,840 Carrie Huckeby: Yeah, I think that middle part is really important. 281 00:25:28,840 --> 00:25:31,600 You can build it, and you tell everyone about it. 282 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:36,550 And I certainly hope our podcast here will help do that and help get the word out. 283 00:25:37,030 --> 00:25:41,440 Is there anything else, Shirley, you'd like to add before we wrap up? 284 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:46,120 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Yes, I would like to there's a couple of main points here. 285 00:25:46,120 --> 00:25:54,040 And just for whoever's listening, just to understand kind of the environment of the classroom. 286 00:25:54,040 --> 00:26:00,520 Our classrooms at TCAT for the most part are what we call self-paced competency based. 287 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:08,500 And so while I do like to lock step students as much as I can through some of these courses, 288 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,080 sometimes it's just better that way. 289 00:26:12,220 --> 00:26:19,990 The opportunity for the self-paced approach that is there, and what that 290 00:26:19,990 --> 00:26:27,790 does for students that want to that are really motivated and want to push and work hard, they can finish early. 291 00:26:27,790 --> 00:26:31,390 So everything is laid out that you have a year of funding. 292 00:26:31,390 --> 00:26:37,630 We have estimated times, but it is possible that students could finish early and go to work. 293 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:44,920 It is possible they could do the first term, which is four months, and 294 00:26:45,550 --> 00:26:49,990 go to work. Some of these 11 that I told you, that's all they did. 295 00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:55,720 And they're still working for some of the fiber contractors to this day. 296 00:26:56,410 --> 00:27:04,120 So really a person can come into the first term and say, that's all I want and leave. 297 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:06,570 They can do second term, okay, that's all, I want and leave. 298 00:27:06,570 --> 00:27:10,450 Or third. I mean, it's really unique in that way. 299 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:18,580 You know, in the classroom environment, as an instructor, I like to say I wear a lot of hats, you know, make sure all the 300 00:27:18,580 --> 00:27:20,200 necessary equipment is there. 301 00:27:20,980 --> 00:27:28,930 I guide students through courses and projects and while at the same time allowing them, enough freedom to navigate 302 00:27:28,930 --> 00:27:32,680 the process of learning and managing their time. 303 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:36,370 Because we really try to treat this – this is their job. 304 00:27:36,370 --> 00:27:41,690 They come here 6 hours a day, five days a week, or 30 hours a week. 305 00:27:41,690 --> 00:27:45,880 And we treat it like they were going into a job. 306 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:53,290 You know, they have responsibilities on their side as far as paperwork and keeping up with their things that way. 307 00:27:53,290 --> 00:28:00,400 And, you know, three things I like to just whichever program it is, three things I like to 308 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:07,740 accomplish. We approach learning with three main objectives. 309 00:28:07,750 --> 00:28:10,570 Number one, teach fundamentals. 310 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:12,080 Teach them well. 311 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:13,990 Fundamentals they don't change. 312 00:28:14,590 --> 00:28:17,050 Number two, help students develop their critical thinking skills. 313 00:28:18,850 --> 00:28:20,770 And number three, just learn to learn. 314 00:28:20,770 --> 00:28:28,630 Learn how to – just like this morning with our opportunities that we had – you have to roll with the punches, as 315 00:28:28,630 --> 00:28:36,460 they say, and figure out how to just accomplish the task at hand, even though there's going to be 316 00:28:36,460 --> 00:28:44,440 obstacles. So while I do lecture, I do lockstep some, it's also an 317 00:28:44,530 --> 00:28:51,910 adult environment where, you know, and students, especially the ones coming out of high school for the first 318 00:28:51,910 --> 00:28:55,870 time, they have their destiny. 319 00:28:56,620 --> 00:28:59,110 What they really want is somebody not telling them every step to do. 320 00:28:59,950 --> 00:29:02,060 They have that in front of them. 321 00:29:02,060 --> 00:29:05,720 And sometimes they take off and sometimes some struggle with it. 322 00:29:05,740 --> 00:29:13,240 So I just want to throw that in as to the classroom environment and 323 00:29:13,450 --> 00:29:15,190 management of it. 324 00:29:15,190 --> 00:29:22,990 And when I asked a couple of students yesterday, some of my better students, I said, you know, when it says give an overview 325 00:29:22,990 --> 00:29:27,430 of what you do, I thought they had some great comments. 326 00:29:27,430 --> 00:29:28,440 And I just wanted to share. 327 00:29:28,450 --> 00:29:36,400 One student said that, you know, I am "someone that educates, teaches and informs students to the best of their ability to 328 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:44,290 do said task by themselves or with little to no guidance." Another student said "someone that presents information in a way 329 00:29:44,290 --> 00:29:50,440 that all students can learn, provide all equipment and guidance throughout the program, and help students develop troubleshooting 330 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:57,520 skills and understand complex networking systems with minimal guidance." And the reason is 331 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,620 it's not that – telling is not teaching. 332 00:30:02,650 --> 00:30:10,360 Teaching is helping best prepare students, as best I can, go out and 333 00:30:10,630 --> 00:30:14,860 go into the world and be successful. 334 00:30:14,860 --> 00:30:17,950 And so we just have a worklike environment. 335 00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:23,920 And so I just wanted to stress that as a classroom environment, and 336 00:30:26,470 --> 00:30:33,610 I've got to tell you right now that graduated associates degrees, and they absolutely – they're glad they got their 337 00:30:33,610 --> 00:30:40,480 degrees, but they really just wanted more hands on, and they're just so happy they came back to TCAT. 338 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,340 Carrie Huckeby: I love that. "Telling is not teaching." So true. 339 00:30:45,910 --> 00:30:52,930 And I had the opportunity to visit the campus last month, and I was really impressed with the program, the 340 00:30:52,930 --> 00:31:00,610 students, the way they did work through their segments individually, and then they went to the next 341 00:31:00,610 --> 00:31:07,840 one. You know, I was impressed with the equipment set up, but Shirley, I was more impressed with your 342 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:15,790 knowledge and the passion that you show for that program and towards those students to ensure that they 343 00:31:15,790 --> 00:31:17,400 walk out of there prepared. 344 00:31:17,410 --> 00:31:25,210 So we really thank you for what you're doing in preparing those telecommunications workers because we're certainly going to need 345 00:31:25,210 --> 00:31:26,770 them. 346 00:31:26,780 --> 00:31:28,060 Shirley Brown-Harrison: Thank you so much Carrie. I appreciate that. 347 00:31:28,750 --> 00:31:35,590 Carrie Huckeby: So my guest has been Shirley Brown-Harrison, the senior instructor of electromechanical electronic systems and 348 00:31:35,590 --> 00:31:38,410 telecommunications at TCAT Hohenwald. 349 00:31:38,620 --> 00:31:45,970 And you've been listening to Lead Tennessee Radio, produced by the Tennessee Broadband Association – cooperative and independent 350 00:31:45,970 --> 00:31:51,760 companies connecting our state's rural communities and beyond with world class broadband.