John H. Allen Career and Vocational Center
A Vocational and Career Education Center for Adolescents in Ruston, Louisiana
High school graduation is an impossible dream for many of our residents. The chaos of their young lives has dashed all possibility of graduation from high school. Because of their circumstances, most of our teens have never really dreamed a possible dream about a career.
So here's what we've done to restore the possibility of BIG dreams.
In 2010 we opened our Vocational and Career Center on the grounds of Louisiana Methodist Children's Home in Ruston. This new facility contains a barbering school, a welding center, building construction classes and GED classrooms. We want our kids to dream BIG, possible dreams! You might think of our Vocational and Career Center as a Dream Factory for teens who have quit dreaming.
The John H. Allen Vocational Training and Career Center offers youth opportunities to receiving cutting-edge training in four areas of concentration: Barbering, NCCER Carpentry, State-issued G.E.D. and NCCER Welding. Highly-certified Career and Technical Educators instruct job readiness classes, computer-aided remediation of core skills (math, reading, grammar), and coordinate an active intern program with community business and industry leaders. These avenues give students opportunities to use their skills in a real workplace which offers more realistic goals for immediate of future employment. Often, teens are able to complete their training as they "age out" of the foster care system and are immediately employed by the construction firms who have partnered with us to serve as internship sites.
|
The Barber College |
The Barber College is state-approved through the Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners. Theory and practice of the profession are modeled and taught by a state approved Master Barber Instructor. Youth apply for and receive a student license allowing them to practice their trade on live models. The Barber College is also a testing center for future Barbers. All credit hours are transferable to the Louisiana Technical College system. |
|
Carpentry Class for Adolescents |
NCCER-certified Carpentry Instructors teach the skills necessary to obtain lucrative employment. Utilizing both traditional and innovative teaching methods, instructors model employable work ethics while instructing youth to read a tape, safely use hand and power tools, and construction techniques. Qualifying students can earn National Recognition through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). |
|
GED Classroom for Adolescents |
General Education Diploma (GED) preparation involves four core areas of instruction: Language Arts (2 parts), Math, Social Studies, and Science. Employers and colleges rely on GED scores for hiring and enrollment. Intensive personal attention is provided to youth to help facilitate rapid attainment of the diploma. Certified instructors utilize GED prep-test programs, SmartBoards, and classroom seat-time to prepare students for their GED tests. |
|
Welding Class for Adolescents |
NCCER-certified Welding Instructors teach youth the skills necessary to obtain lucrative employment. Utilizing traditional and innovative teaching methods, instructors model employable work ethics while instructing youth in the safe use of oxy-acetylene cutting operations, plasma cutting, stick welding and wire welding. Qualifying students earn National Recognition through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). |
|
Construction Workshop |
This large, fully-equipped, construction workshop is a hands-on lab for students. |
