Fernandez to Chamber: partnership programs key to preparing youth for workforce

The Guam Chamber of Commerce welcomed Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez as a guest speaker at their membership meeting.

Fernandez presented on workforce development and the college and career readiness programs offered at the public schools through partnerships. He informed the business community that these programs are in GDOE's state strategic plan and that the department values their responsibility in offerings students options as they transition out of high school.

"If you think about Guam and how it can relate to the future you realize that there are a lot of visionaries out there, you've got people in the trenches working in the private sector and in the public sector to lead, but the work that's going to take place is going to be handled by a workforce that is primarily for the most part is going to be comprised of those 2,000 graduates we turn over every single year," he said.

According to Fernandez one of their strongest partners is the Guam Community College. GCC provides career technical education programs in each of the high schools that allows for students to start work before receiving their high school diploma.