Community Education Focuses on Career Training
W
ith new leadership and a new location,
Community Education has a new mission
beyond hobbies and enrichment: careers.
Traditional leisure classes have been replaced with
skills-based, career-building opportunities demanded
by industry, employees and residents alike.
“It is important industry understands: we want to
teach what they need,” said Community Education
Director Susan Sweeney, “And we need their input.” She
noted a welding class taught at Christopher High School
in Gilroy. The trade skills class caught on quickly, always
filled and shifted from an enrichment class to a skills
class. Listening to industry, she discovered employees
couldn’t read blueprints, make adjustments, and under-
stand symbols. Those skill sets have been added to the
curriculum.
The Certified Phlebotomist training program combines
65 hours of classroom instruction with a 40-80 hour
externship. Classes are held on Saturdays, and externships
are scheduled according to the partnering labs’ hours. The
class has been held four consecutive terms, and it always
fills with a lengthy waiting list. Students also prepare
for the California State Exam, so successful students can
apply for Laboratory Field Services CPT-1. Students do
not need to have a background in health education to
take the class and become licensed in the practice. Area
phlebotomist salaries range from $18-22 per hour.
Veterinary Assistant classes, which just concluded the
second consecutive term, train in all the components
to support animal care under the direction of a
veterinarian. Classes meet for 70 hours, followed by a
40-hour externship. Area vet assistant salaries range from
$13-19 per hour.
“Local vets are very excited about this program,” said
Sweeney. Students learn to handle animals, deal with
sick animals, prep them for surgery, and care for them
while receiving treatment at the vet’s office. It is a serious
occupation, and the classes prepare students for the reality
of the work.
The Pharmacy Technician class trains students to fill
patient prescriptions to doctor’s orders. Classes meet for
144 hours, accompanied by 120 hours of externship work.
Phlebotomy
students take turns
drawing and
giving blood as
they learn the re-
quired techniques
to pass the class
and the state
exam.
As two Vet As-
sistant students
comfort Duece,
pet of a class-
mate, another
student takes his
temperature us-
ing an ear
thermometer.
Students in
the Pharmacy
Technician
class sort,
catalog and
inventory a
new ship-
ment.
Vet Assistant
students learn
techniques for
drawing medica-
tions and, using
sponges and
oranges, practice
delivering injec-
tions to muscle
and to skin.
The training prepares students who complete the class to
take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam. Area
Pharmacy Tech salaries range from $16-20 per hour.
To enroll, propose a class, or get more information go to GavilanCE.com or email [email protected]
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
gmhtoday.com
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