business backgrounder | education & workforce
advanced manufacturing instructor at
SVT and former 30-year engineer at
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP).
Areas of study include aerospace
and advanced manufacturing, sports
medicine, biomedical sciences,
engineering, as well as computer
science and app development. And,
the school’s newest line of course work
will be geared toward the energy job
sector, thanks to a gift from Spokanebased Avista Utilities.
are job-ready, prepared for trade school
training or a four-year degree. Filling
the pipeline with a skilled, high-tech
workforce is something employers in
our state have continued to stress is of
the utmost importance to competing in
a global economy,” she said.
In a state with the highest num— Mark Bitz, advanced manufacturing
ber of STEM-related jobs and leading
instructor at Spokane Valley Tech and former
the nation in STEM job creation, the
30-year engineer at Hewlett-Packard Co.
need is growing to pioneer a way to
prepare the next generation for the
high-tech job openings.
hands-on, trial-and-error learning environment
“The way we fill the skills gap is through programs like ours that
A traditional learning environment — a book, desk and a teacher — make coursework more interesting than just doing textbook work
isn’t always the best way to attract students to STEM fields.
and solving problems on paper,” said Bitz. “It really is solving the
Bitz describes SVT’s method of teaching as a “try-it, learn-from- real-world problems in a job-like environment with real equipment
it and fix-it” style, similar to his work at HP, but nothing like the and real technology.”
abstract work he did in college.
Former student Greg Anderson, now attending Virginia’s George connecting workers, employers
Mason University studying mechanical and electrical engineering, Programs at SVT are preparing students to meet the needs of
is just one of many examples of how this new model of high school employers like Spokane’s K&N Electric.
— and its learning and teaching style — is helping students find a In a unique twist of fate, the National Association of
Manufacturers (NAM) made its only West Coast stop on their
passion in high-demand trade and STEM fields.
Reached via cellphone in the middle of homework, Anderson State of Manufacturing Tour in February 2015. The main event
took place in the high school’s great room.
explained his experience and project at SVT.
As part of the advanced manufacturing class, he designed an elaborate To showcase the unique environment, SVT students gave
pill dispenser to prevent accidental drug o