In partnership with Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)
Shelbyville and the Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership, Bedford County Schools (BCS) is the
beneficiary of a $260,641 grant to outfit an allied health laboratory classroom at Community
High School. This grant is a result of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s recent announcement of
projects receiving funding through the second round of the Governor’s Investment in Vocational
Education (GIVE) program, which prioritizes learning opportunities in rural counties and
enhances career and technical education statewide.
“When the new wing at Community High School is completed, we will have a fantastic learning
lab setup for students interested in an allied healthcare career,” said BCS CTE Director and
Supervisor of Secondary Instruction Lori Sexton. “This lab will feature three hospital rooms with
all the features of a functional hospital space. This will expand the opportunities for our medical
therapeutics students who are exploring healthcare career options and will allow for them to
continue to grow in these fields of study.”
Sexton also explained that this will give greater exposure to more students pursuing medical
careers, not just nurses or doctors. Students will also have the option to dual enroll at TCAT and
complete pre-requisite classes required to enter their practical nursing program and then
transition to either East Tennessee State University or Motlow Community College to pursue a
degree in nursing that culminates in either a Registered Nurse (RN) or Bachelor of Science in
Nursing (BSN).
The partners in making this grant a reality according to Sexton are TCAT Shelbyville President
Dr. Laura Monks and Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership Director of Existing Business
Development Kelly North. TCAT Shelbyville will serve as the grant’s fiscal agent and order the
laboratory equipment, and the Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership will serve as the lead entity and
project director.
Several Bedford County organizations have agreed to job shadowing, tours, classroom
professional speakers, student internships and teacher externships as part of this grant. In
addition to TCAT Shelbyville and Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership, these organizations include
Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital and the Community Clinic of Shelbyville and Bedford County.
“We are beyond excited for the incredible opportunity this will bring to our BCS students
pursuing healthcare careers,” commented BCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tammy Garrett.
“While we currently have HOSA programs in each of our high schools, this takes it to a new
level. Without this grant, we would not have been able to enhance hands-on learning at this high
of a level.”
Since creating GIVE, Gov. Lee’s first legislative priority, he has invested $50 million in the
program to support rural workforce development through technical education. The first round of
GIVE funding in 2019 served an estimated 8,000 students, and this second round will serve an
estimated 7,500 students. The 27 projects funded statewide in this second round serve all
economically distressed counties and 25 of the 30 at-risk counties in Tennessee.
“Rural workforce development has been one of my top priorities since day one,” said Gov. Lee,
“and I’m glad to see the remarkable progress we’re making. By developing a highly skilled
workforce, Tennesseans’ lives are transformed, and companies are choosing to invest and
expand in our state at record rates.”
Bedford County Schools is a district of fifteen schools committed to the academic and personal success
of each child and serving over 8,800 students.