How five West Tenn. schools modernized with Ford's help
Ford Motor Co. and Ford Philanthropy recently invested in five West Tennessee K-12 schools to provide each with new state-of-the-art labs.
The Ford Future Builders Labs have turned some that classrooms are often underutilized into new hands-on, collaborative learning centers.
The Builder Labs are set to allow teachers to use a curriculum that combines traditional academic learning with new tools to better prepare students for the workforce.
One example is Haywood High School, where a previously unused science lab is now a fabrication lab that includes 3-D printers, laser cutters, and microcomputers.
The Ford Future Builder Labs are part of Ford’s Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee. Ford has invested nearly $11.7 million in West Tennessee through the initiative, and donated to more than 90 organizations.
Nearly $1 million of that ($990,000) was allocated for workforce development initiatives, including the Ford Future Builder Labs.
Ford developed the Good Neighbor Plan after several years of coordination and community discussions led by the Equitable Growth Advisory Council. The group is made up of 30 stakeholders across West Tennessee, including elected representatives, religious leaders, business executives, and state officials.
The five Ford Future Builder Labs are located in:
Lauderdale County: Ripley High School and Ripley Elementary School
Haywood County: Haywood High School
Tipton County: Brighton High School
Fayette County: Fayette-Ware High School
Ford is set to produce all-new gas-powered truck models at the Tennessee Truck Plant in BlueOval City, with production scheduled for 2029. Ford said it plans to have 2,300 workers when the plant opens.
By Omer Yusuf – Reporter, Memphis Business Journal
