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Henderson County, Tennessee

Joe T. Wood, special projects coordinator at Hardeman County Schools in Tennessee, sees opportunity amid what he calls the "fourth industrial revolution." He spoke with ACT at the 2023 Workforce Summit about how skills-based hiring addresses changing workforce demands.

As Joe explains, skills-based hiring shifts the focus to employers, offering a more deliberate and transparent approach to assessing essential skills. He also gives insight into the need for a more flexible and responsive approach to career readiness to address the reality that “every kid’s going to have a career.”

Reflecting on obstacles and opportunities, Joe underscores the importance of rethinking traditional models to prepare students for diverse career pathways.

Hear all of Joe’s valuable insights in the video.

The Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development hosted its annual event at Jeter Mountain Farm Sept. 30 to celebrate the past two years of economic development in the county. Since the last celebration in 2019, board Chair Nathan Kennedy shared all that the partnership had accomplished, including their Work Ready Communities designation.

Four work release employees at Dewayne’s Quality Metal Coatings received their ACT National Career Readiness Certificates on Tuesday morning, September 21, 2021. The four honored were Thomas Gutierrez, Joshua Donald, Brien Reynolds, and Phillip Bailey. The Henderson County Sherriff’s Department has been able to provide opportunities for individuals to earn the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) and earn college credit from Jackson State Community College through collaboration of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Tennessee Adult Education.

The Southwest Region of Tennessee, in conjunction with The National Rural Education Association and the Tennessee Board of Regents, has developed the Career Resource Network to help strengthen economic development in rural communities within the region. This regional digital portal provides one-stop access to resources and tools for school, staff, parents, and students in Chester, Henderson, Decatur and Perry regions.

Episode 16 of the Ready for Work podcast features the Southwest Tennessee Workforce Readiness Collaborate. The group just landed a first-of-its-kind grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to comprehensive regional interagency approach to help bridge the skills gap and connect Rural Workforce Development, Education with Economic Development.