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Shreveport, LA (KTBS) — The director of Northwest Louisiana Technical College says it’s the only school in the state that’s a fully technical institute.
That means they have a lot to live up to and that’s why they’ve made some adjustments this school year to measure up to every student’s needs.
“I’m a landscaper in the daytime, so it’s kind of like cutting hair!”
Phillip Daniel is learning to cut hair the right way at NWLTC in Shreveport. He’s been cutting hair for almost 20 years, but decided last year he wanted to get his license so he can quit landscaping and do what he really wants.
“I’m an artist by nature.”
Daniel’s didn’t think school was for him. He moved around, didn’t understand the school system, and wasn’t financially ready to commit. But now, he believes the decision was a no brainer.
“You never forget those technical skills.”
Especially now more than ever. Director Earl Meador understands a lot of their students work, such as Daniels. Since he prides themselves on being the only fully technical school in the state, he decided they needed to make some adjustments.
For the first time, the technical school, that has campuses in Shreveport, Minden and Mansfield, is offering 8 week courses rather than 16 weeks.
“They don’t have to wait 16 weeks to start. They drop out, they go right back in. The ultimate goal is to get them in and get them the career skills they need,” said Meador.
Because sometimes, life gets in the way for those who are working and going to school.
Just like it did for Daniels.
“That extra time to recuperate would have been nice.”
Daniels missed a few days of school last semester when he had surgery on his jaw for an ameloblastic tumor. He was worried he’d fall behind and not finish school on time.
But now that classes are 8 weeks long rather than 16, he can finish school even earlier than he originally planned.
“It helps a student focus on 2,3 courses every 8 weeks then go onto the next,” said director of curriculum Treva Askey. “Now if they go full time, they can complete course in a year in a half rather than 2 years.”
And, you’re never too old or too young to start a career that puts a smile on your face as big as Daniels.
NWLTC considers itself the last remaining technical college because its courses are designed to stand alone and not focused on transfer credits to four-year universities. Classes start at the technical college’s campuses Monday.
Something else the school has added, a work readiness program. After working with employers in the area to figure out what else was needed, the school came to the conclusion they had to offer a course that would teach students interviewing skills, coming in on time, teamwork and work ethics.
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