Harnett County Schools CTE Secures Health Careers Promotion Grant from the NC General Assembly
Friday, April 4, 2025
Investing in the Future of Healthcare
Harnett County serves as a training ground for students pursuing healthcare careers, offering a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities. Central to this effort are Harnett County Schools' Career & Technical Education (HCS CTE) Program, Central Carolina Community College (CCCC), and Campbell University, each providing comprehensive programs and real-world training to equip students for successful careers in healthcare. Through these programs and strong industry and community partnerships, students gain the knowledge, skills, and certifications needed to meet the evolving healthcare demands of Harnett County and beyond.
Building on this foundation, the HCS CTE Program is taking a bold step forward in expanding healthcare career awareness, thanks to the PRC 253 Health Careers Promotion Grant announced on April 15, 2024. Supported by the North Carolina General Assembly, this initiative provides funding for public school units (PSU) to develop comprehensive promotional plans that highlight career pathways in healthcare.
HCS CTE was awarded $18,000 through this grant, with funds available until expended. The first phase of the grant-funded promotion plan focuses on video marketing as a strategic effort to educate students, families, community members, and stakeholders about the existing pathway alignment within Harnett County Schools that supports the health sciences sector. While discussions about career pathways are common in educational and governmental settings, they are not always effectively communicated within our communities. This project aims to change that in Harnett County.
As soon as Lindsey Hardee, Director of Career & Technical Education for Harnett County Schools, reviewed the application requirements for the Health Careers Promotion Grant, she knew that Harnett County’s PSU was a strong candidate for funding.
“With the County’s population steadily growing, the demand for healthcare professionals is expected to rise,” said Hardee. She added that the ten-year projection data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s dashboard highlighted this need, emphasizing the importance of using data-driven insights to shape CTE program planning.
Hardee is very familiar with exploring and applying this actionable data, as she regularly uses it in her role planning Harnett County Schools' CTE Program.
According to Hardee, the Health Science Cluster is currently the third-largest within HCS CTE in terms of CTE Concentrators. A CTE Concentrator is a student who has successfully completed at least two CTE courses within a single career pathway during high school, including a concentrator-level course (typically a level two course). Additionally, students graduate with industry-recognized credentials such as First Aid, CPR/AED, Stop the Bleed, Pharmacy Technician Certification, and NC Nurse Aide 1 (CNA1) – all at little to no cost.
Harnett County’s High School Health Science instructors come from the healthcare industry, many of whom are also practicing Registered Nurses, bringing invaluable industry experience. Their expertise guarantees that students receive practical, real-world instruction that effectively prepares them for future careers in healthcare..
To further support health sciences education, Harnett County Schools recently added four state-of-the-art Health Careers labs at each of its comprehensive high schools. These labs feature modules specifically designed to align with high school CTE Health Science courses, CCCC’s programs of study, and Campbell University’s degree and advanced degree programs.
Bringing the Vision to Life Through Video Marketing
A key element of the grant-funded project was creating a compelling video series to highlight local healthcare career pathways and partnerships. Hardee worked with local creative, Jacob Stickland of Grunt Media Solutions, where her vision for the series was brought to life.
“From the very beginning, I appreciated Jake for his unique production skills and organic storytelling evidenced in all of his prior work,” shared Hardee. “I wanted our school system and our wonderful partners - CCCC, Campbell University, and Harnett County - to be able to share with the public the longstanding partnerships we have in the County, particularly in the healthcare sector.”
This Health Careers Promotion Grant Project video series showcases the journey of career exploration in Harnett County, from early exposure in elementary school to advanced healthcare training in high school and beyond.
- Video one explores how CTE introduces students to career pathways in elementary school and progresses through immersive middle school experiences in college and career readiness labs. Coats/Erwin Middle School teacher, Bain Floyd, highlights how these hands-on labs help students refine their interests and make informed decisions about their high school career pathways. Watch now
- Video two highlights the impact of high school Health Science programs. Melanie Womack, a Registered Nurse working in healthcare turned teacher at Western Harnett High School, shares her passion for educating future medical professionals while senior Addison Patterson discusses how the student-led organization, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, has helped her develop leadership and career readiness skills. Watch now
- Video three shows the connection between CTE, dual enrollment, and workforce needs. Harnett County Economic Development Director, Stephen Barrington, explains how CTE supports healthcare industry demands, while Megan Burgess, Executive Director of Secondary Partnerships at CCCC, highlights the role of Career Coaches in guiding students toward dual enrollment opportunities that lead to job placements. Watch now
- Video four showcases two individuals pursuing healthcare career paths through higher education at Campbell University. Nursing student Chris Donovan shares his transition from law enforcement and military service to healthcare while Doctor of Physical Therapy student Kalyssa Ortiz, discusses how her early college experience in rural Hertford County accelerated her career journey. She emphasizes the value of Campbell University’s small class sizes and hands-on learning experiences, through serving at Campbell University's Community Healthcare Clinic, where she sees a direct impact on the community. Watch now
Together, these videos demonstrate how CTE equips students with the skills and opportunities to thrive in the evolving healthcare industry.
Empowering Career Exploration and Growth
For Hardee, one of the most impactful segments of the video project was the feature on a local veteran sharing his career evolution. “In an era where technology is rapidly transforming industries, more individuals are pivoting in their careers - sometimes multiple times throughout their lives,” said Hardee. “Transferable skills gained through CTE programs provide the flexibility and foundation for individuals to adapt and succeed in any career field,” she added.
Equally important to this initiative is ensuring that students understand it is okay not to have a clear career path immediately. Programs like CTE and dual enrollment exist to help students explore various options and find the path that best suits their aspirations and abilities. By providing access to quality education, real-world experiences, and industry credentials, CTE Programs are equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in a dynamic workforce.
"On behalf of HCS CTE, we extend our sincere gratitude to the NC General Assembly for making PRC 253 possible,” said Hardee. “This funding has allowed us to share the story of the incredible healthcare career opportunities available right here in Harnett County. We also want to thank our partners, educators, and all those featured in the videos for their contributions to this initiative.”
For more information about Career & Technical Education in Harnett County Schools, please visit Harnett County’s Schools’ CTE Program web page here.
CTE and Economic Development
Harnett County is experiencing significant growth, with demand for healthcare expected to rise.
In fact, the County’s population has increased by more than 24% over the past 15 years. According to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, Harnett County is projected to have sufficient population by 2030 to be reclassified from a rural to a regional center/suburban county. Read more on those findings here.
Our community healthcare and education partners are essential to the quality of life in Harnett County. The recent opening of Cape Fear Valley Health's 66,000-square-foot Health Pavilion and Cancer Center at Central Harnett Hospital, along with the groundbreaking of the new Adolescent Behavioral Health Center, underscores the growing demand for healthcare services and the commitment to improving and expanding access to care in Harnett County. These long-term collaborative efforts and strategic investments, backed by Harnett County Government, our elected officials, economic development partners, and the Golden LEAF Foundation, have been key in positioning Harnett County for sustainable growth.
We are grateful for leaders like Hardee who understand the importance of aligning our schools' CTE initiatives with evolving labor market trends to develop a skilled workforce for both current and future career needs. By proactively building a strong talent pipeline that supports the growing healthcare sector, through community-based learning experiences and industry partnerships, students gain the skills needed for high-demand careers. This not only strengthens the local economy by ensuring a ready workforce but also attracts new investments and jobs to Harnett County and the region.
North Carolina’s greatest asset is its people. To drive economic development and secure the future of our communities, investing in our workforce is essential. We are grateful for the ongoing efforts to strengthen Harnett County’s workforce at the state level, including this NC General Assembly-sponsored grant and other key initiatives.
“K-12 and post-secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs directly correlate with current and future talent needs of local industry - it's a supply and demand relationship," said Stephen Barrington, Harnett County’s Economic Development Director. “Education and training are key to economic development successes and while speaking to the healthcare industry and occupation trends for this video series, any industry sector would benefit from aligned CTE programs. We are grateful to be part of an ecosystem that provides in-demand CTE programs,” Barrington added.
To learn more about economic development in Harnett County visit harnettedc.org.