NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Camryn Moran said her grade school teachers had tried to discourage her from attending a vocational school because they thought she would not receive the education necessary to attend selective colleges.  

 

"However, I didn't see this unique style of education as a disadvantage, I saw it as a way to broaden my horizons, inside and outside of the classroom," said the McCann Technical School senior on Wednesday. "It was apparent after my first year at McCann that I had made the right decision."

 

Standing before the school's new HVAC building, Moran said she's been trained and certified through the computer-assisted drawing course in complex programs being used now on college campuses. 

 

"McCann has played a pivotal role in shaping me into a well-rounded, knowledgeable and compassionate individual choosing to attend McCann has undoubtedly been one of the most significant decisions I have made on my educational journey," she said. 

 

Her speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new program is exactly the kind of inspiring and uplifting testimony to STEM education that state Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler likes to hear, and why they were all gathered on a warm and windy afternoon at the vocational school.  

 

The secretary and other state officials have been visiting schools and educational events around the state as part of STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Math) Week, with the theme "STEM Starts Now." He'd traveled on Wednesday from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame where more than 350 students from 12 schools across central and Western Massachusetts attended the annual Manufacturing Innovation Challenge. He later went to Clarksburg School to hear about class that developed ideas for the town's municipal vulnerability plan.  

 

"We really want to lift that up this week, and a big piece of this, of this effort, really involves connecting students to stem through Career and Technical Education at our comprehensive high schools as well as our career tech ed schools like McCann," he said. 

 

Tutwiler joined Superintendent James Brosnan, Darin Almeida of Laureyns United Heating & Cooling Inc., and Moran to highlight the opening of the school's new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning laboratory, which was made possible by a $3.1 million state Skills Capital grant. 

 

"Investments made by the Healey-Driscoll administration made it possible to build this beautiful facility, this 5,500 square-foot HVAC lab that will provide technical education and training to 100 students each year who attend McCann Tech," he said. "But also providing opportunities for students through the after dark program and through adult learning and education for them to engage and learn and become certified in an industry that is on fire right now. ...

 

"This lab, this incredible building right behind me, creates a workforce pipeline so that students can find meaningful careers, while also allowing our economy to grow."

 

Almeida, a member of the school's advisory committee and consultant on the program, said the need for HVAC technicians stretches beyond the Berkshires. 

 

"We stand here today immeasurably grateful that McCann Technical High School as well as our local and state officials have listened to and responded to our pleas for help in providing young men and women in our community with education and training in HVAC so that we can bolster our workforces," he said. 

 

"Once students graduate from this program and head out it in the world, they will never go hungry and through the teachings of this program, not only will they possess the tools that will provide them with limitless opportunity and financial stability, but personal gratification as well as they will find that their knowledge and skills will perpetually provide so many that are in need with positive result."

 

The dearth in HVAC professionals had been highlighted as a critical workforce need  the Berkshire County Workforce Blueprint. There is no other HVAC education in the county.

 

Tutwiler and state and local officials, area educational and business leaders toured the new building, which has a large classroom, two labs, an exterior lab for installations, and storage facilities. Students will be working with the newest technology.

 

"Many of our providers donated this equipment," said Alameida. "This is the most modern and current equipment."

 

Tutwiler got speak with some of the first potential students, a group of freshmen currently going through the exploratory program. They showed him some of the new things they'd learned, including 14-year-old Gaberiel Sinopoli, who soldered his first copper pipe. 

 

The secretary also toured the inside of the school, particularly the CAD program, which used some of the $50,000 Career Technical Initiative Planning grant awarded by the state for new computers and software.

 

"It's been a real honor to be here to highlight the efforts to support schools and institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults alike, and increase capacity in workforce training programs across Massachusetts," said Tutwiler.