Free program prepares high school students for the workforce

YUMA, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) - The Southwest Technical Education District of Yuma, better known as STEDY, provides job skills training for local high school students.

STEDY was formed in 2015 to help students find a career faster, providing tuition-free career and technical eduction at Arizona Western College and on the STEDY central campus, in a specific area of study.

Students enrolled in the program earn high school credit on their home campus, and in some cases, may earn college credit, industry certifications, and-or a state license.

The STEDY central campus offers programs like animation, medical assistant, and software development.

“For example our medical assistant program offers the opportunity for students to earn certifications through the national healthcare association,” said Rosa Garibay, STEDY Program Management specialist.

Superintendent of STEDY, Tom Tyree, has been in education for 50 years and left his job as Yuma County School Superintendent to tackle the reigns of technical education.  

“Doing it in a way where you are actually learning by doing, is a key component to career and technical education and my experience over many years as an educator is, when that type of learning occurs, our students are really engaged in their learning, and when they’re engaged they’re gonna learn a lot better,” said Tyree.

STEDY is accepting new students now.

“We want those people to stay here locally, we want them to stay here in Yuma because they contribute to the economic wellbeing of our community. They’re the lifeblood of any business,” said Tyree.

A skilled workforce is critical to Yuma’s economic health, and to promote and support this, STEDY works with community shareholders to inspire students to make a successful transition from school-to-career and become contributing members of society.