Steve Meyer, a longtime advocate and practitioner of technical education in Northeast Wisconsin, joins Kate and Ann on this week’s episode of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast to take a deeper dive into this month’s Insight on Manufacturing cover story about the New North region’s tech education teacher shortage and what institutions like Wisconsin Technical College System, UW System and school districts like Seymour Community are doing to help recruit, retain, and reskill qualified teachers to train students for next-generation careers.
On the podcast Meyer, who is a key source in the cover story, elucidates his personal career journey and breaks down some of the key issues and opportunities to strengthen technical education. Listen as he talks about how companies and communities can play a role, and why industry is already playing a major role in Northeast Wisconsin thanks to organizations like NEWMA.
“Our local industry around here are a bunch of rock stars,” Meyer tells the co-hosts on this week’s episode, adding that it’s important for industry partners to support schools and also keep in mind the global needs of technical education. “I have seen changes in education due to the immediate need of the workforce. I do think there needs to be that, but also it’s really important to understand that … every different kid might have something different that they’re interested in. And the more specific you get in schools, the more you lose some of the kids.”
Get more insights by listening to this week’s episode of NEW Manufacturing Insights on Spreaker or anywhere you listen to podcasts. This episode, along with all other September episodes of NEW Manufacturing Insights, is sponsored by Wisconsin Paper Group.
NEW Manufacturing Insights is a joint production of Insight on Manufacturing and the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance, produced by B.J. DeGroot of Woodward Community Media. New episodes are released on Thursdays.
For a free invitation to attend a live recording of the NEW Manufacturing Insights podcast and cybersecurity panel discussion on Oct. 3 at Werner Electric Supply, register now for the 14th annual Manufacturing First Expo & Conference.
