Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School Seeks Co-Op Education Partners from Community

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School has announced a new initiative to expand their cooperative education partnerships according to Southeastern Principal David Wheeler.

“Since its founding in 1968 Southeastern Regional has enjoyed the reputation of  producing outstanding graduates from what are commonly called the ‘trades’ programs -- automotive, carpentry, cabinetmaking, electrical, plumbing, metalworking and manufacturing.”

“Now, in the 21st century, while we still offer those traditional quality vocational programs, we want area businesses and industries, to know that Southeastern has many other exciting new and innovative programs that prepare our students for  the future—programs like Engineering, Environmental Technology, Design and Visual Communications, Computer Networking, Criminal Justice and more.”

Cooperative Education, or “Co-Op”, is an employment partnership program between the school and area employers and is an important component of all vocational technical education programs throughout the state of Massachusetts.  At Southeastern it gives qualified grade 12 students the opportunity for paid, on the job, work experience while still attending Southeastern for their academic work.

“Co-op is a great opportunity for both the student and the employer,” according to Chuck Burgess, Southeastern Co-op development director, “Qualified students are allowed to have real world work experience during the week or cycle that they would normally be training in the school’s shops or laboratories.” The benefit to the employer, according to Burgess, is that “the employer gains an employee already trained in the business or trade and all of the students have earned one kind of industry certification or another related to their employment. It is an investment in the community and provides the opportunity for the employer to hire the student full-time after graduation.”

Businesses interested in learning more about Southeastern Co-Op, the over 21 program majors, or who would like to hire a Southeastern Co-op student should contact Chuck Burgess at 508-230-1294 or email him at cburgess@sersd.org. Additional information can also be found on the school’s website www.sersd.org

Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School is a public 9-12 vocational high school located in Easton, Massachusetts, serving approximately 1,255 students from the city of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Foxborough, Mansfield, Norton, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.