By Susan Burton, Henry County Schools Communications Director
Paris, TN – Be Pro Be Proud was at Henry County High School to offer skilled trade work simulation experiences to junior and senior students.
Launched in Tennessee in 2023, the Be Pro Be Proud initiative was a collaborative effort between community and business leaders to give students an opportunity to explore careers such as commercial truck drivers, linemen, electricians, welders, heavy equipment operators, robotics, and more.
Henry County Schools Career and Technical Director Betsy Allison applied to have the program come to the school for the week: “We want to change the perception some students may have about skilled professions by giving them a hands-on experience with the jobs while they also learn about the wages they can make, and how these professions are in demand in the workforce currently.”
The Paris Board of Public Utilities sponsors the movement and helped Henry County’s application.
Students visited the semi-truck filled with different simulators during their Advisory class. Students attempted various virtual technologies such as virtual goggles, motion simulators and more to experience what it was like to drive a commercial truck or to be in a lineman bucket working on power lines.
Be Pro Be Proud’s goal is to lead the movement to bring a new generation of pride, progress and professionals to North America’s skilled workforce.