From the classroom to the workplace: Kentucky leaders share lessons on work-based learning

August 27, 2026

Students learn best about careers when they have opportunities to experience them firsthand. Recognizing the value of these experiences, CPE is working to expand and strengthen work-based learning opportunities across the state.

As part of that work, CPE staff recently developed the Work-Based Learning in Kentucky: Policy and Practice Blueprint, which provides recommendations for strengthening work-based learning opportunities and building stronger connections among education, employers and communities.

Building on this work, CPE staff facilitated a panel discussion at a recent Commonwealth Education Continuum meeting, where three Kentucky leaders shared how their communities and institutions are using work-based learning to help students develop career knowledge, workplace skills and professional connections. The Continuum has also named employability and work-based learning as part of its policy priorities.

The panel featured Cumberland County Judge/Executive Luke King, Dr. Charlotte Rich, chair of Eastern Kentucky University’s Department of English, and Tami Hatfield, executive director of HR Supply Chain at GE Appliances.

Creating opportunities for students to lead

King discussed Cumberland County’s efforts to address population loss and “brain drain” by giving young people a greater voice in their community.

The county’s Civics Club, established in 2024, gives high school students opportunities to learn about government and participate in local decision-making. The club mirrors the structure of the county fiscal court, with students taking on roles similar to those of county officials. The program also serves as a pathway into the county’s internship program, giving students opportunities to engage with government and community organizations.

King said the experience has also revealed the importance of teaching students basic employability skills — from appropriate workplace attire to understanding how an office operates.

The lesson, he said, is to meet students where they are and give them opportunities to develop the skills they need to succeed.

Bringing career preparation into the curriculum

At EKU, Rich described how the Department of English is helping students connect their academic experience to the workplace through its Career Development in English course.

The course helps English majors identify and build skills relevant to their career goals. Students also gain hands-on experience through job-shadowing opportunities in offices, galleries and other campus settings. They receive coaching throughout the experience, keep a weekly journal and complete a small project that they present at the conclusion of the course.

Rich emphasized that these experiences help students see how the skills they develop through an English degree — including writing, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving — translate into the workplace.

The department has also developed an alumni network to help students build professional connections and continue receiving support as they move into their careers.

Connecting students with industry

Hatfield highlighted GE Appliances’ longstanding work with Jefferson County Public Schools and its efforts to expose students to careers in manufacturing and other fields.

Through partnerships with JCPS schools, GE Appliances has supported hands-on, project-based learning, career exploration and opportunities for students to experience the workplace. At Doss High School, for example, GE Appliances helped establish a manufacturing assembly demonstration line for students in the school’s manufacturing pathway.

GE Appliances also has supported programs that combine work experience with education and career preparation. Its GEA2DAY program provides high school seniors with opportunities to work two days a week while gaining real-world experience and access to college tuition assistance. GE Appliances also has been a lead employer in Louisville’s SummerWorks program, which provides high school students with summer employment and training.

Hatfield noted that successful partnerships between employers and schools require preparation on both sides. Employers need to understand what schools and teachers are trying to accomplish, while educators need to clearly communicate student learning goals and outcomes before a work-based learning experience begins.

Learning by doing

Although the three programs serve different students and operate in different settings, the panelists shared a common message: Work-based learning is about more than giving students a place to work.

Authentic experiences help students understand how classroom learning connects to careers, develop the skills employers expect and build relationships that can shape their futures.

The examples shared during the panel also illustrate the range of approaches Kentucky communities, postsecondary institutions and employers can take to expand these opportunities — from civic engagement and job shadowing to paid work experiences and industry partnerships.

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