New Haven schools partner with General Dynamics to hire manufacturing students
Setting students up for success after graduation is the goal of a new partnership between New Haven Public Schools and General Dynamics Electric Boat.
The submarine manufacturer is looking to hire hundreds of workers, and school leaders hope students in the district’s manufacturing pathway will soon become part of that candidate pool.
At James Hillhouse High School, senior Jorge Lopez has spent all four years immersed in programming, coding, and hands-on manufacturing in the school’s lab.
“It’s really been great. I’ll say it’s been some good four years of high school with this program,” Lopez said.
Now, with the district’s new partnership with Electric Boat to mentor and potentially hire manufacturing students, Lopez said he sees a future in the field.
“Should I keep pursuing college? I’m kind of leaning more towards that side, staying with the manufacturing,” he said.
District leaders describe the collaboration as a unique opportunity designed to help students transition directly into high-demand careers.
“To know that they’re going to be looking for their future employees from New Haven Public Schools is an awesome win for our economy, but the state economy as well,” NHPS Assistant Superintendent Keisha Redd-Hannans said.
The manufacturing lab at James Hillhouse High School has been in development for the past four years.
School leaders said they are excited about the chance for students to move directly from the classroom into the workforce after graduation.
Bob McCain, the district’s science department supervisor, said the program focuses on three core skills: design, machining and welding.
“The really big three that we look at is designing, which you do on the CAD program; the machining, which you actually do here; the welding they’ll have — so we’re really excited they’ll be able to put all this together and work in the field,” McCain said.
Vincent Squeglia, lead for the Manufacturing New Haven pathway, said watching students gain real-world skills has been especially rewarding.
“With the experience they’re getting here, they’re probably going to start at a higher rate than if they didn’t have this, so it just makes me like a proud dad,” Squeglia said.
In addition to manufacturing, the district offers four other established career pathways: healthcare, business, education, and bioscience.
“Word is spreading that we are graduating our students with credentials that are going to put them ahead,” NHPS College and Career Pathway supervisor Dina Natalino said.
For now, Lopez and his classmates are preparing for a hiring fair with General Dynamics Electric Boat scheduled for March 26.
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