Leon County apprenticeship program gives students a head start on employable job skills

Nick Maddox
·3 min read
Graphic Design Junior Apprentice Jade-Rose Konuch, a senior at Leon High School, diligently works on a sign that will be mounted at several Leon County parks later this year, educating visitors on the stormwater treatment process.
Graphic Design Junior Apprentice Jade-Rose Konuch, a senior at Leon High School, diligently works on a sign that will be mounted at several Leon County parks later this year, educating visitors on the stormwater treatment process.

Industries, like technology and trades, are among the fastest-growing job sectors, yet the demand for skilled workers in those sectors remains high. In fact, data shows that by 2026, more than 70,000 skilled jobs will be available in the Leon County area. To prepare students for the demand, Leon County government, in partnership with Leon County Schools and CareerSource Capital Region, is working to fill these gaps and connect high school students to skilled careers through the Leon Works Junior Apprenticeship Program.

Now entering its seventh year, the Leon Works Junior Apprenticeship Program allows high school juniors and seniors to earn a paycheck and an elective credit toward their diploma while gaining hands-on experience in a skilled career field. Students have the opportunity to gain expertise in skilled career fields such as information technology, health and emergency services, trades, and creative.

Through the Junior Apprenticeship Program, students will work in a Leon County department as a junior apprentice. In addition to earning a paycheck, students can gain valuable and meaningful work experience in the following in-demand positions:

  • Computer-Aided Design

  • Construction Contract Management

  • EMT Paramedic

  • Fleet Mechanic

  • Graphics and Digital Design

  • IT Tech Support

  • Medical Administrative Associate

  • Web Development

Junior Apprentices will also complete CareerSource Capital Region’s Learn, Earn and Advance Program (LEAP) to prepare them for entering the workforce after graduation. This impactful training helps students navigate their futures with resume preparation, interview coaching, financial literacy courses, and more.

Each year, I get to see the Leon County Junior Apprenticeship Program in action, and I could not be more proud of the program and what the students have achieved through the program and beyond graduation. Since the program began in 2017, we have had more than 80 high school students complete nearly 42,000 on-the-job training hours. In fact, just this year, Graphic Design Junior Apprentice Jade-Rose Konuch, a senior at Leon High School, designed a sign that will be mounted at several Leon County parks later this year, educating visitors on the stormwater treatment water process and why it’s important to the health of our environment.

Godby High School senior Taylor Welsh, a junior apprentice with Leon County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), trains on all aspects of the job, from learning how ambulances are stocked and maintained to building the skills necessary to problem-solve when responding to an emergency.
Godby High School senior Taylor Welsh, a junior apprentice with Leon County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), trains on all aspects of the job, from learning how ambulances are stocked and maintained to building the skills necessary to problem-solve when responding to an emergency.

In addition to the tangible benefits that the program provides students, the Junior Apprenticeship Program is also representative of the county’s ongoing commitment to growing our local workforce to keep pace with our community’s economic growth. The Junior Apprenticeship Program folds seamlessly into Leon County’s culture of innovation as we combine work-based, on-the-job learning with relevant technical education in the classroom and expose local high school students to a world of possibilities beyond graduation.

We encourage all interested Leon County juniors and seniors and their families to explore the Leon Works Junior Apprenticeship Program. The program is available to high school students who attend a public, charter, private, or Leon County Schools virtual school. Students can apply online for the fall semester through March 31, and for the spring semester through October 31. Learn more and apply today at LeonCountyFL.gov/JRApprentice.

Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox
Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox

Nick Maddox is chairman of the Leon County Board of County Commissioners.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County apprenticeship program gives students a head start on employable job skills