NRCC History Book

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to the student. Fifty-four students from nine high schools were enrolled in 297 credits during Fall 2007. Public School Teachers and Paraprofessionals . Special programs and services provided by NRCC for public school teachers and paraprofessionals included conferences, trainings and certifications, and the establishment of a professional development center on campus. During the fall in both 2000 and 2001, the college hosted technology conferences for school superintendents, principals, and counselors from the five public school systems in our service region. In 2002, a professional development center for public schools was formed as a response to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and provided the required training to public school teachers and paraprofessionals. Teachers received training in computer applications, integrating technology into the classroom, web page design, and Microsoft Office. Paraprofessionals attended classes to prepare them for the paraprofessional assessment certification exam. Workforce Development . To continue the mission of providing training and development programs for area businesses and industries, the Center for Workforce Development was created in the early 2000s. For the next decade, the center provided many services including both non-credit and credit computer courses; certification testing; WorkKeys programs and assessments; international offerings; specialized training in business and technology; healthcare and medical courses; paralegal refresher seminars; classes in accounting, real estate, computerized numerical control machining, and manufacturing; and welder qualification testing.

In addition, workshops preparing students to take the Computer-adaptive Placement Assessment and Support Services (COMPASS), which was NRCC’s placement test, and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) were offered. Community service courses, which included cake decorating, defensive driving, handgun safety, and ABCs for investing, were popular offerings. Adult Basic Education was also taught through the Center for Workforce Development. For many years, the center partnered with Virginia Tech (VT) and local industries to offer a certificate in supervision and leadership. In 2000 the apprenticeship program was revitalized with 97 apprentices distributed across 13 different companies, and the program continued to be a vital part of workforce development for the remainder of the decade. I n August 1994, I was living with my parents after earning my master’s degree in history from Virginia Tech in May 1994. I had left a resume and application at NRCC that summer but did not really expect to receive a job offer. Charlie White called the house, and my mom came outside to get me. I was painting a shed for my parents and was pleasantly surprised that Charlie was calling for me. He asked me if I wanted to teach a night class at NRCC, and I told him that I would love to teach a class. I asked him when the class started, and he informed me that it started the next day at 6:00 p.m. I told him that I would not be prepared to teach under such short notice, but he said that it would not be a problem if I did not have a full lecture for the first class. So, I showed up the next day, and he and Peggy Dalton gave me a textbook and showed me around campus. Needless to say, that first lecture was not very informative for the students; but it was the beginning of a fantastic teaching career for me. WILLIAM FRIEDL Assistant Professor of History Employment at NRCC: Full-time 2003-present

Chapter 1