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MiMfg Magazine May 2017
with the NASA HUNCH program.
Every day, students in PRIME® class-
rooms make things that link them to
other schools and to innovations being
utilized in space. Those learning
experiences become lifelong memories
and excite the next generation about
careers where they can explore those
technologies every day.
I’m a big believer that if a tree falls
in a forest and nobody hears it, it doesn’t
make a sound. PRIME® is about
making a loud sound throughout the
community that jobs are available and
the training for those jobs is available.
What advice would you give to
an employer just beginning the
PRIME® process?
Cramer: Trust the process. It may
sound simple and cliché, but it’s true.
We’ve built PRIME® to be a program
that works and works for every employ-
er that wants it. There’s a rhythm and
rhyme to every step. We only move to
step B when we have step A, and step C
when step B is in place.
Talent development cannot happen
with short-term solutions or quick fixes.
It takes time and a commitment across all
parts of student’s learning experience.
We’ll custom build a curriculum that
works for you, meets academic standards
and gives students a step up in the job
search process. It’s worked everywhere
it’s been implemented — trust that it
will work for you.
Why do you like PRIME®?
Cramer: I’m super passionate about
this. Before I did this, I was a teacher
and was privileged to impact the lives of
180 students every day. When people
ask what I miss about teaching, it’s
them. It’s the students. It’s seeing the
lightbulb go on in their head when
something clicks or when they discover
an interest in something. Learning is
life experience. If everything we teach a
student connects to something outside
of the classroom, then we never have to
worry about them asking “why do I
need to know this” because the answers
will be right in front of them.
Wheeling High School students unwrap
the NASA materials they received from
the Johnson Space Center.
With PRIME® I have the opportunity
to build something that doesn’t force a
job choice on someone, but provides
them the skills to choose the career
pathway they want and know that a job
in that field is waiting for them when
they graduate. That’s a great feeling.
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Brett Gerrish is a communications
coordinator with the MMA. He may
be reached at 517-487-8533 or
[email protected].
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