Academic skills

Academic skills

At Job Corps, we will help you unlock your full potential. Not only do we offer hands-on career training, but we also offer classes in academics, like reading and math.

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High School Diploma or the equivalent

At no cost to you or your family, Job Corps provides any materials and supplies (i.e., books, workbooks, testing materials, specialized safety equipment) you’ll need to complete your academic and career training programs.

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English Language Learning (ELL) Program

Enroll in our English Language Learning (ELL) program and become more confident in your English speaking and writing abilities. Reasonable accommodations to support ELL are available.

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Tutoring and Academic Support

If you are interested in getting into a tutoring program once enrolled, you may contact your instructors or the Academic Manager. Tutoring is available in academics, where students are tutored by instructors or by fellow students (Peer Student Tutors).

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Advanced Career Training

Keep learning and training. Our Advanced Career Training (ACT) is an advanced college-level program. Students in ACT get to continue living on campus while taking courses for a college degree. To qualify for the ACT program, you must have:

  • A high school diploma or the equivalent
  • Completed at least one level of Job Corps career technical training
  • Recommendations from career technical training instructors and center staff
  • No major disciplinary issues within 60 days of applying
  • Above-average evaluation scores
Career Success Standards (CSS)

At Job Corps, we know that it’s important for you to have great employability, social and independent living skills. Before you enter the workforce, we’ll make sure you understand

Job Corps' 10 career success standards:

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Workplace Relationships and Ethics

Interact with co-workers and deal with problems and situations with honesty, integrity and responsibility.

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Communication

Listen actively, follow directions and communicate with others to solve problems and accomplish tasks.

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Personal Growth and Development

Hone your personal skills, attributes and behaviors that foster confidence and personal growth.

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Interpersonal Skills

Get along with others and adjust to a variety of social and professional situations.

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Information Management

Interpret and evaluate data, organize and maintain information, and use technology to complete your work.

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Multicultural Awareness

Value diversity and the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and cultures.

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Career and Personal Planning

Work on a personal plan that outlines a step-by-step process for entering and advancing in your career.

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Independent Living

Find, manage and use resources to maintain employment, support physical and emotional needs, and lead a productive and independent life.

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Continuous Learning

Assess personal strengths and areas for development, set goals, and identify learning opportunities.

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Problem Solving
Solve problems by seeking and evaluating different points of view and utilizing different resources to reach decisions.
Meet the staff

Meet the staff

Henry Hohenberger
Henry Hohenberger is a full-time Math instructor at Westover Job Corps Center. His background is in chemistry, but he has roots in math as well. Prior to teaching at Westover, he taught both general math and science courses to undergraduates at Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College. He also works with our students who are considering the college pathway, or who are working toward their HiSET exam to prepare them for higher education.
Haven Williams
Haven Williams is a full-time High School Diploma instructor. He has worked in public and private settings and is dedicated to seeing his students succeed. Haven works in close partnership with our Penn Foster College liaison to get our students enrolled and, on their way, to earning HSDs.
Gualter Pereira
Gualter Pereira is a full-time Driver’s Education instructor at Westover Job Corps Center. He is bilingual in English and Portuguese. Gualter is responsible for training new drivers and assisting students with getting their learner’s permits, as well as behind-the-wheel training with veteran students to pass their road tests. He also makes sure Westover’s standards for Driver’s Education surpass those of the state of Massachusetts.
Chelsea Baker
Chelsea Baker , Math instructor, brings an extensive teaching background to Westover Job Corps Center. She has shaped many students in the subject of mathematics, building their confidence and skills, and guiding them to success.
Patrick Welkley
Patrick Welkley , Academic instructor, has an educational background in sociology and special education. Throughout his career, the positions he has gravitated to and enjoyed most have all been related to working with individuals to help them reach their goals. When he isn’t working, Patrick enjoys coaching football at Western New England University. He also enjoys golfing and hiking in the Adirondack Mountains . Teaching is a great outlet for Patrick to use his skills to mentor, model and help students succeed.
Adrianne Villegas
Adrianne Villegas is the TABE administrator and disability coordinator. She has served Westover Job Corps Center in multiple roles, including Health Care Foundations instructor and programs secretary. Along with her fluency in English and Spanish, Adrianne’s experience working with students to overcome their barriers and be successful is invaluable to our team.
Tamar Berthiaume
Tamar Berthiaume is a full-time Reading instructor at Westover Job Corps Center. Over the years, she has taught Spanish, reading, literature and writing in both public and private educational institutions. An herbalist in her spare time, Tamar has a love of gardening and all things green. She is frequently found working alongside our CTT classes in the All-Hands Garden, a collaborative effort between academics and the career training areas to work with sustained agriculture.
Barbara Urbanek
Barbara Urbanek is a full-time Reading Instructor at Westover, with many years of experience within Job Corps. A native of Poland, she is fluent in English and Polish. Barbara is also the HiSET coordinator, assisting students with obtaining their high school equivalency certificate. She enjoys seeing her students reach their highest potential and succeed on their pathways.