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New adult program director making strides

Fresh perspective, existing facilities to expand educational options at MCAST

Sentinel photo by LAUREN KERSHNER Ben Glover, the new Adult Program Administrator, sits behind his desk. Glover has been on the job for a month and has ideas to push the program forward.

LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology has hired Ben Glover as the new head of the Adult Program.

Glover began his career at MCAST approximately one month ago.

“I have worked with other vocational schools and workforce development programs,” he said about his experience. “The idea was that while moving would be different, the content would be the same.”

However, he has found the content is not as similar as he had thought, but said he is understanding the structure of vocational schools benefits all parties.

“The grant structures are similar,” Glover said. “It allows for me to work with administration to get the grants that will help the program.”

Glover said he is working hard to get the program started using experience with the other programs that were already established. He also said he has contacts that will help with different programs.

“My experience with the other programs has allowed me to make contacts with others,” Glover explained. “I have already reached out to some of them for advice on the programs here.”

Some of the programs that are going to be offered, or are already offered include:

¯Residential wiring

¯Machining

¯Carpentry

¯Welding

¯Inspections

¯Certified Nursing Assistant

¯ServSafe

¯Practical Nursing

The overall idea, Glover said, is to use the facilities that are already on site.

“We have wonderful facilities here that are not being used at night,” he said.

The student programs and the adult programs will not interfere with each other. A building, just off the side of the fence to the back access doors for the Academy, will be renovated to be used as classrooms and labs for the adult program.

There could be changes coming to some of the programs including making the part-time CNA classes, which currently take three months, to full-time classes that would take one month.

“We are getting a very good response for this change,” Glover said. “It allows the [CNA] students to work and go to class at the same time.”

Despite only being at the school a month, Glover already stands by the programs both for traditional students and adult students.

“I really like what they are doing here,” he said. “I am encouraging my own kids to enroll in the programs.”

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