Cooperative Education

Rudy Charrier	Kevin Withee

Instructor: Rudy Charrier
Instructor: Kevin Withee

The Instructors

Mr. Kevin J. Withee joined the staff at Skowhegan Regional Vocational Center in 2006. Mr. Withee is a graduate of Madison Memorial High School and holds a BS degree in education from Plymouth State College. Mr. Withee received a vocational certificate from the University of Southern Maine. Mr. Withee has taught secondary education for 22 years. Mr. Withee also owns and operates Skowhegan Driving School. He also teaches students how to drive a car but has his instructor license for tractor trailer and class B trucks. Mr. Withee is a member of the National Education Association, Maine Education Association, and Maine Association for Career and Technical Education, Maine Association for Cooperative Education, Maine Driver Education Association, Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce, Skowhegan Recreation Board, and Skowhegan-Madison Elks.

Mr. Rudy A. Charrier joined the staff at Skowhegan Regional Vocational Center in 1988.  Mr. Charrier is a graduate of Skowhegan Area High School and holds a BS degree in Vocational Education from the University of Southern Maine.  Prior to returning to Skowhegan, Mr. Charrier was the Director of Cooperative Education and Agricultural Business programs at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.  While at Nokomis, Mr. Charrier worked for eight summers as a Research Assistant for the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Maine at Orono.  Mr. Charrier has held several positions in business and industry and is the former owner of  R.A. Charrier and Sons screen printing business.  He also is a veteran of the United States Army and is an active member in the Maine Association for Career and Technical Education, Maine Association for Cooperative Education, National Education Association, Skowhegan-Madison Elks, and the Maine Football Coaches Association.

This program provides an opportunity for students to participate in an occupational training program for which facilities and courses would not otherwise be available.

Cooperative Education is an arrangement between the school, employer, student, and parents.  The goal is to find training stations that will meet the varying needs and interest of the students who desire occupational training.

The Cooperative Education program is designed so that a student will spend part of the day in school and the remaining part of the day on the job.  The student has the opportunity to select an occupational area of his/her choice.  A site is then chosen that will provide appropriate employment for that student.

The job site that has been chosen will help the student acquire experience in the occupation of his/her choice prior to graduation. This program will help the student make an easier transition from school to the world of work.

While at the job site each student has a training plan for that place of employment that deals with:

• Career objectives
• Goals
• Skills to be obtained
• Safety standards

The work sites are visited by the instructors on a regular basis to monitor progress of each student and to offer assistance when necessary.

The employer provides each student with Worker’s Compensation coverage,  minimum wage or more depending on the skill level and performance on the job. The employer must meet all Federal and Maine Labor Law requirements. The Co-op student learns valuable entry level work skills that can be beneficial in other occupations or post secondary education.

The Cooperative Education program encompasses five school districts and operates within the philosophies and objectives of each district.

Cooperative Education students can be found working in their areas of interest such as:

• Service Industries                        • Production
• Mechanical                                  • Food Services
• Health                                        • Construction
• Sales                                          • Data Entry
• Communications                          • Clerical

Cooperative Education students are required to attend related classes taught by the Cooperative Education instructors.  The classes meet twice a week. The students will learn to:

• Develop an employment portfolio
• Research careers                       
• Plan for success
• Find and apply for a job
• Be successful on the job
• Progress toward their career objective
• Ensure their personal safety while on the job
• Manage their money
• Use bank services
• Use credit wisely
• Buy insurance
• Handle legal services
• File personal income taxes
• Understand the Social Security System                                 and Services

Co-op is an extremely valuable experience for our students. The skills our students in Co-op learn should be required of all of our Carrabec Students.

- Diane Starr, Counselor at Carrabec High School

The Co-op program is a wonderful opportunity for our students. Through the Co-op program our students learn valuable skills to prepare them to enter the world of work.

  - Laurie Johnson, Counselor at Valley High School

The structure, content, and implementation of the
Co-op program are so meaningful and relevant for students being successful. It offers an opportunity for students to advocate for themselves in the world of work.

   - Don Lacount, Counselor at Maine Central Institute

I value the skills that my students are acquiring such as: time management, being a responsible employee, and social skills. Their jobs often motivate them to aspire to loftier goals, both academic and career.

  - Linda Houle, Counselor at Skowhegan Area High School

There are few other programs that help develop specific workplace knowledge and skills with lifelong skill needs such as taxation, financial management and employability development.

  - Dan Hylan, Counselor at Skowhegan Area High School

The Cooperative Education experience that our students have through the program refine their career focus and give them an advantage in work experience when applying for other jobs.