The boards of the Kent School District and Renton Technical College unanimously approved the formation of the new Medical Career Pathways program at a special joint board meeting on March 20.
The program, which will allow students to earn a two-year associates degree in pre-nursing alongside a high school diploma at Kentlake. will enable students to go directly into the work force or transfer those credits to another school. The program will begin in the fall.
Steve Hansen, the president of RTC, sees the program as a chance to seamlessly blend high school and college and give students hands-on experiences that lead to career options.
“What we really value in the education we do is it’s hands-on learning,” Hansen said during the meeting.
Some of that hands-on learning will also come through a partnership with MultiCare in Covington where some of the classes will be held.
The program also fits with the city of Covington’s vision for becoming a hub for healthcare in south King County.
Covington Mayor Margaret Harto said the program is the first step in changing how Covington looks at the potential of youth and giving youth opportunities for jobs at home.
“It’s unimaginable, even beyond healthcare,” Harto said. “Now we have the first of those things that will bring them back to Covington.”
Next steps for the program will be finalizing the details of the classes and marketing to and recruiting students.
John Hayes, a junior at Kentlake, attended the board meeting after hearing about the new program at school.
“I think the program is going to be great for those who are motivated to get into college with a degree,” Hayes said.
In addition to the program during the day at the high school, RTC will also begin offering classes on site in the evenings that will be open everyone in the community.
“We think it’s a great opportunity to meet the educational needs of this area,” Hansen said.
The Medical Career Pathways program is the first of its kind in the Kent School District and it’s a model Dr. Lee Vargas, superintendent of Kent Schools, hopes to expand.
“It’s a unique model, one we’re going to build upon,” Vargas said. “Together we can do more than we can as individual institutions.”
Reach Katherine Smith ksmith@covingtonreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5052.
