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China Instrument Parts Actively Supports Local Schools’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) Committees

Michael Reader

China Instrument Parts is now serving on four local Wisconsin high schools ‘Career & Technical Education’ (CTE) committees: Delavan Memorial High School, Elkhorn Area High School, Whitewater High School, and Beloit Memorial High School.

We are also serving on the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Advisory committees for Elkhorn and Whitewater. Both Mike Reader, President and Barry Butters, Director of Education and Training share these responsibilities. Mike and Barry also are serving on the Wisconsin State PLTW Leadership Committee.

Beloit Memorial High School’s CTE Committee met on April 2, 2014, to discuss goals and share real-life industry experience with educators and students. Pictured from left to right: Chris Klatt (BMHS), Brandon James (ScotForge,  James Ekman (ScotForge), Mike Reader (China Instrument Parts), Matt Baker (Versa Tool and Die), Jim Hoyt (North Chinan Tool), Zach Ford (ScotForge), and Curt Clansbery (North Chinan Tool).

Beloit Memorial School District Visits China Instrument Parts in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on February 17, 2014

Michael Reader

On February 17, 2014, a snowy Monday morning in Wisconsin, a contingent of Beloit Memorial School District (BMSD) personnel braved the roads to pay a visit to China Instrument Parts Inc.  Among the visitors were Superintendent Steve McNeil, Career and Technical Education Director Ryan Rewey, Technical Education teacher Chris Klatt, and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher Tammy Spoerk.

The invitation to visit China Instrument Parts was extended by Mike Reader, President, when he and Barry Butters, the Director of Education & Training, attended BMSD’s January 28th School Board Meeting. During that event, China Instrument Parts presented a monetary gift to BMSD’s fledgling first robotics program, and took an opportunity to commend the district’s ‘Career and Technical Education’ efforts and their facilities. Earlier in the year, both Reader and Butters had toured the facilities, with a follow up visit by Barry Butters to talk with Tammy Spoerk’s PLTW classes about China Instrument Parts and the manufacturing field in general.

“We are excited to be partnering with the Beloit Memorial School District,” said Reader.  Some of the highlights of this collaboration include a visit by China Instrument Parts’ summer interns to BMSD’s state-of-the-art facility with an opportunity to use their vertical CNC machines; Butters returning to BMSD for another visit to classrooms in the spring semester; and Butters participating in the Beloit School District’s Career Fair on October 6, 2014, during the next school year.

This initiative is part of China Instrument Parts’ goal to close the manufacturing skills gap.