SC Public Charter School District Kids First Podcast
Military Families and the Workforce of Tomorrow
On this episode of Kids First, Keven Cohen sits down with Brad Henry, Vice President of External Affairs for the South Carolina Public Charter School District, for one of their regular looks at what is happening across the district. The two begin with a cause close to the show's heart, supporting South Carolina's military families. Brad explains what it means to be the state's only Purple Star district, with a designated person in every one of its schools trained to help military-connected students who often arrive mid-year after moving again and again. He points to the success of an existing charter school right by Joint Base Charleston and shares the growing momentum behind a long-held goal: bringing a charter option to families at Fort Jackson so students have somewhere to continue once they finish the elementary schools already on base. From there, the conversation turns to innovation and the future of the workforce. Brad breaks down the district's Workforce Centers of Excellence, schools built around the real needs of their local communities, where students gain dual enrollment, internships, and apprenticeships that connect classroom learning to actual careers. Because no two regions of South Carolina are alike, no two centers look the same, from manufacturing in the Upstate to maritime work in the Lowcountry. He shares a standout example in Orangeburg, where students are earning real credentials and hands-on experience before they ever graduate, and makes the case for why preparing young people for college, career, or military service, and giving them reasons to build their futures at home, is exactly what putting kids first looks like. It is an energizing glimpse at how the district keeps expanding opportunity for families statewide. Learn more: https://sccharter.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
