Today, Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt visited Pitt Community College as part of her Future-Ready Community College Tour. During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor toured the preschool lab classroom in the Education and Child Development Program, as well as the Biotechnology Department, where she spoke with students and educators. Lieutenant Governor Hunt was joined by Pitt Community College leaders, including Dr. Maria Pharr and local elected officials.
“North Carolina needs more early childhood educators and here at Pitt Community College, students are gaining hands-on experience in important careers like child care and STEM,” said Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. “We need to support our community colleges so they can continue to provide innovative ways to train our workforce and address the needs facing North Carolina.”
“At Pitt Community College, we are deeply committed to building a future-ready workforce - one that is prepared, adaptable, and rooted in real opportunity,” said Dr. Maria Pharr, President of Pitt Community College. “From our biotechnology programs that support North Carolina’s life sciences industry, to our early childhood education initiatives that strengthen families and prepare tomorrow’s teachers, Pitt Community College is proud to play a vital role in regional economic growth and social mobility. We are honored to welcome Lieutenant Governor Hunt and deeply appreciate her leadership and advocacy for community colleges. Her Future-Ready North Carolina initiative reinforces the transformative power of our work and the importance of continued investment in our students, our institutions, and our state’s future.”
During the visit, the Lieutenant Governor visited the sensory model classroom to see students in action as they led a STEAM Kindercamp as part of the Education and Child Development program. Pitt Community College’s preschool lab classroom offers students a real-world environment to prepare for careers in early childhood education. The Lieutenant Governor also visited an interactive lab in the biotechnology department where students study cell culture.
Lieutenant Governor Hunt’s policy platform, Future-Ready North Carolina, champions investments in child care and early childhood education and workforce development, in part through North Carolina’s community colleges. As a member of both the State Board of Education and Community College Board, the Lieutenant Governor will also emphasize Career and College-Ready Graduate Programs.
Lieutenant Governor Hunt serves as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education along with Senator Jim Burgin. The task force is working to find solutions to the child care crisis by identifying strengths and gaps in the current system, strengthening public and private investment in child care infrastructure, and working to recruit and retain a strong child care workforce.
The North Carolina Community College System includes 58 institutions dedicated to educating the leaders of tomorrow by providing affordable college courses and programs to anyone across the state. From animals and the environment to trades and mechanics, these schools offer entry-level programs across dozens of industries and provide continuing education to those interested in strengthening their skills in specific areas.
Read more about Lieutenant Governor Hunt’s Future-Ready Plan here.
Stay updated on the Future-Ready Community College Tour here.
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