Educators from across the region spent a cold, late-February day experiencing what Newport News Shipbuilding has to offer their students.

The event, hosted by SEEKnns, included a windshield tour of the shipyard and visits to key training facilities.

Chester Hall, the assistant principal of New Horizons Woodside Lane campus, felt fortunate to have the opportunity. “Not a lot of people have the opportunity to get behind the scenes at the shipyard,” he said. “This is my seventh year in education as an assistant principal. When you have the opportunity to impact these young lives and help them get jobs, you can’t always really see what you are getting them into. I’m one of NNS’ biggest advocates right now, because the shipyard is more than these kids realize.”

Renarda Bradshaw is the Career Technical Education instructional supervisor for Newport News Public Schools – and wife of a 25-year shipbuilder. “Today has been very eye-opening,” she said. “I had no idea as to the scale of the shipyard.”

She was surprised to see the fire station and to learn that things such as graphic design are not outsourced. This realization gave Bradshaw her biggest takeaway for the day.

“For NNPS career technical education, we do everything from business to technology and engineering education. This means I can go tell our business students and marketing students that the shipyard has opportunities for them as well,” she said.

The visit was led by Sheryce Moore (K18) and followed the program’s initial launch in December.

“This experience immerses educators in the life of a shipbuilder,” Moore explained. “Participants walk away with a better understanding of the vast career opportunities here at NNS, and a sense of pride in what we do to secure the freedom of our nation.”