Watauga BOE hears report on early success of RISE Caldwell-Watauga Program by: Moss Brennan moss.brennan@wataugademocrat.com
BOONE — The Watauga County Board of Education recently heard a report on the early success of the RISE Caldwell-Watauga program.
The initiative, called RISE Caldwell-Watauga (Regional Initiative for Skilled Employment), is a partnership project with the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, Caldwell County Schools, Watauga County Schools and the Watauga County Economic Development Commission.
The initiative allows students to take advantage of on-the-job training with local employers to gain hands-on experience that develops the skills and resources necessary to secure sustainable employment and join the area’s workforce. The initiative also promises to have a positive impact on local businesses by helping train and prepare students to enter the workforce. The program was announced in November.
Tara Brossa, the program’s executive director, provided the update to the BOE at its February meeting.
Brossa said the program has visited all six high schools in both Watauga and Caldwell counties and has students in placements for the spring from each school. She said students are showing interest across multiple career areas, with trends beginning to align with local employer demand.
Early signals are helping inform them where to deepen employer engagement and where additional exposure may be needed.
Students in the program receive a $150 transportation stipend per month and an opportunity to earn a performance bonus of an additional $150 for supplies. The employees receive a $500 mentorship incentive, up to $1,500 in supplies reimbursements per student, work-ready students with mentor support, communication, and coaching from the RISE team, and opportunities to build long-term workforce relationships.
Since November, the program has received more than 70 student applications and engaged more than 30 businesses. There are 32 students in the spring 2026 cohort. Of the industries students are placed in, 46% are in health care, 15% are in trades, 12% are in hospitality, and 10% are in education, manufacturing, criminal justice, marketing, and banking.
The careers the students in the program want are:
Art Director
Auto Master Technician
Aviation Mechanic
Bakery Owner
Dental Hygienist
Engineer
Financial Advisor
Forensic Scientist
Hotel General Manager
Marketing Coordinator
Medical Assistant x2
Nurse Practitioner — Neonatal
Nurse Anesthetist x2
Pilot
Radiographer
Registered Nurse — General x3
Registered Nurse — Oncology
Registered Nurse — Emergency
Sonographer x2
Surgical Tech x2
Surgeon — Cardiothoracic
Surgeon — Trauma
Teacher — Art
Teacher — Elementary
Welder
Veterinary Medicine
Some of the 18 student placements are UNC Health Appalachian, JE Broyhill Catering, CCC&TI, Happy Valley School, Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living & Memory Care, Foothills Regional Aviation, and Exela Pharma Sciences.
For more information about the program, visit www.risecaldwellwatauga.org.