Gibson Technical Center Newsletter
Winter 2022
Note from the Director's Desk
The winter weather has certainly gotten our students and staff off to a slow start to this semester, but we are catching up in a hurry. February is our busiest month of the year! We are celebrating Career Technical Education Month with several activities that include guest speakers, interview training and job fairs. This is also the month we have the majority of our sending school tours for sophomores and juniors that are interested in many of the programs we offer. Our student advisors lead groups of students to each program to explain the valuable skills and certifications that they will gain at Gibson Tech. These prospective students get to see first-hand the valuable skills the students are learning at GTC. In addition to our 10 sending schools we have added the Crane R-III School District to our consortium. This will undoubtedly mean that our enrollment will again hit another record high next year!
Nick Thieman
Director- Gibson Tech
Alumni Spotlight: Ryan Backlin
Since 2015 he has served as a Technology Technician for the Hollister R-V School District. The most rewarding part of his position at Hollister is being exposed to all sorts of technology. He is always learning new things as he works in a great collaborative environment with a group of dedicated educators. Dr. Sean Woods, Assistant Superintendent of District Operations in the Hollister R-V School District could not be happier with how Ryan, "Completes tasks right the first time and always on schedule. He will drop everything to help someone in need. Every time he steps up to the plate he is always hitting it out of the park."
He greatly appreciates how Mr. Thompson's teaching style allowed him to figure things out on his own. He learned that it is okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. The most important lessons from his time at GTC he still uses today include the proper procedures involved in troubleshooting all kinds of technical issues and Cisco networking. Ryan cannot thank Mr. Thompson enough for figuratively teaching all his students how to fish versus giving them fish to eat. Because of this, Ryan is able to problem solve and trouble shoot any type of technical issue. He believes any student who is interested in a career in technology is to always find an opportunity to tinker with computers. The knowledge gained will be with you the rest of your life.
Picture Courtesy of the
Hollister R-V School District
We are GTC!
But, we are more than this...
We are Network Technicians, Graphic Artists, EMTs
We have 223 years of industry experience
We are Sheet Metal Technicians, Fabricators, and Mechanics
We are preparing students for college, career and life
We are Farmers, Stage Hands, and Business Owners
We have 234 combined years of experience in the classroom
We are Restaurant Managers, Carpenters, and Printers
We are residents of Stone, Christian, and Taney County and
these are the same communities our students call home
We are Marine Technicians, Coaches, and Nurses
We are advocates for all students
We are Line Technicians, and Kitchen Managers
We are committed to preparing our students for many careers
WE ARE GTC!
Spotlight on Early Childhood Career
In the Early Childhood Careers Program students study topics including developmental milestones, educational theorists that have contributed to education, how to create a safe and healthy learning environment, and how to plan and implement lesson plans for newborn children to children eight years of age.
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Students learn instructional strategies for guiding students through learning centers such as art, block building, sensory, music, and academic areas including math, handwriting, reading, and science. Students also learn how to apply this information in a classroom setting. Students in this program get hands-on experience working alongside teachers at the Reeds Spring Early Childhood Center and Primary School.
With the completion of this two year program, students will have the opportunity to gain nine articulation college credit hours through Ozark Technical Community College, become certified in Early Childhood through the American Association of Family and Consumer Science, as well as the opportunity to take the Missouri Paraprofessional Test to become a certified paraprofessional.
Spotlight on HOSA
All EMT students at Gibson Tech are members of HOSA which is a national organization for career and technical education students enrolled in health science programs who are planning to pursue a health career. Local HOSA chapters provide programs and activities to help individuals develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. HOSA members have the opportunity to share experiences with other people involved in the health professions. Members build confidence in their own ability to develop skills that will lead to successful employment in the health care industry. The mission of HOSA is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill, and leadership development of all health science education students, therefore, helping the student meet the needs of the health care community.
The students have been working hard to prepare to compete in the Missouri State HOSA Round One Competition in various health care related competitions. Students who place among the top in the state in round one will then continue to Rolla, Missouri on March 28 & 29, 2022 to compete in round two where they will continue to showcase their abilities.
Every student in the class is making great progress and working great as a team. The loyalty of support received from area professionals and the Taney County Ambulance District continues to motivate and prepare students for the national and state EMT license examination taken upon completion of the course. Thank you to all who support our program!
Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Noriega
Mrs. Noriega has a passion for the hospitality industry and clearly communicates to all of her students that the hospitality/restaurant industry provides many different types of opportunities for students with a wide variety of skills. She knows that some of her students may not seek a career in the restaurant industry, but they will develop an appreciation and respect for those who work in this industry for the rest of their lives. Additionally, these students will be able to take advantage of the skills learned in her program for the rest of their lives, because everyone has to eat.
One of the best gifts she provides to her students as an instructor at Gibson Technical Center is her ability to foster positive relationships with all students. She is proud of the fact she has had students qualify for the SkillsUSA state competition in seven different years. She has a heart for her students who are at times considered underdogs and is committed to their success.
In addition to her duties as an instructor, she serves as a volunteer in many organizations within Stone County. Mrs. Noriega and her husband, DJ, have two sons, Dominic and Logan both attended Reeds Spring High School and Gibson Technical Center. In her spare time she and her family enjoy spending time on the lake. Jennifer Noriega is a blessing to Gibson Technical Center and we are so happy she brings her passion of preparing students for college career, and life to school everyday.
GTC January Morning Professional of the Month
GTC January Afternoon Professional of the Month
Health Technology Students Gain Experience
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Just Another Day in the Collision Repair Program
GTC February Morning Professional of the Month
GTC February Afternoon Professional of the Month
Spotlight on SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry professionals working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA is a nationwide student organization with over 13,000 chapters in the United States. One of our mottos for the school year is “Step Out of Your Comfort Zone.” Students are doing this by trying new things in their programs, competing at the district and state level, and participating in the Quiz Bowl.
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Our second motto for the school year is “Giving Back to the Community.” The members did not hesitate in realizing this goal by completing many service projects in the fall semester. They volunteered at the Tri- Lakes Humane Society in Reeds Spring. The membership teamed up with Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Kimberling City to build beds for kids who do not have a bed of their own. The students worked with Convoy of Hope is Springfield where they helped packed over 4,000 food bags for people in need during the holiday season. The members took time out of their day to do a Roadside Clean up where they collected over 30 bags of trash. We can’t wait to serve the needs of our great community in the spring semester.
Last year the GTC SkillsUSA became a Chapter of Excellence. The Chapter Excellence Program honors chapter achievement relative to SkillsUSA’s framework of developing personal, workplace and technical skills. The framework actualizes SkillsUSA’s mission “To empower members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.” It also serves as the blueprint for career readiness. By centering on industry demands, the framework builds the foundation for relevant and intentional student learning and employability skill development. Our chapter exceeded these expectations andwe were the only chapter in Missouri to reach the silver level of excellence.
The students have been working hard to prepare for the SkillsUSA District and State competitions held in winter and spring. The members will travel to different locations competing and showing off the skills they have mastered at Gibson Technical Center. A big thanks goes out to the Table Rock Rotary Club for their generous gift of $1,000 that will go directly to the students as they compete against other students in their programs of study.
Branson Tour
It was great to see sophomores from Branson High School tour GTC January 25. These students were able to check out all of the awesome things happening in our 11 programs of study. We are looking forward to seeing many of these students in the fall of 2022.
Crane Tour
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Blue Eye Tour
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Bond Issue
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We're Building a House!
December 15, 2021
January 18, 2022
February 1, 2022
Did You Know?
An estimated 29% of the current construction workforce will retire by 2026, resulting in a shortage of one million craft professionals in the construction industry.
In 2021, 69% of companies reported difficulty hiring. Employers are struggling to find and retain qualified applicants.
More than 80% percent of manufacturers report that talent shortages impact their ability to meet customer demand.
In 2020-2021, there were over 12.3 million students enrolled in CTE programs across the country.
Source: Congressional Career &
Technical Education Caucus
Gibson Technical Center
Reeds Spring, Missouri 65737
Email: nthieman@wolves.k12.mo.us
Website: https://gt.rs-wolves.com/
Phone: (417) 272-3271
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibsontechnicalcenter
Twitter: @gibson_tech