Roanoke County Public Schools (RCPS) and Carilion Clinic are proud to announce a long-term partnership to provide ongoing support to promote and expand regional workforce development. As part of this partnership, Carilion is investing, over a five-year period, approximately $1.25 million in medical instruction provided at the Roanoke County Career and Technology Center (RCCTC), which will open in early 2027.
This investment will go to the Campaign for Excellence – a capital campaign to provide additional opportunities for students such as scholarships for RCCTC graduates pursuing careers that will help fill the current workforce shortage in many high-demand industries, including heath care.
Construction of the $80 million dollar center began in September 2024. Once completed, RCCTC will provide more than 123,000 square feet of state-of-the-art instructional space. The new CTE center will replace the current Burton Center for Arts & Technology (BCAT) located in Salem. BCAT is home to a Governor’s STEM Academy and award-winning programs in many industries including engineering, motorsports/welding, mass communication/graphic design, culinary arts, building trades, mechatronics/robotics, health sciences, cybersecurity, and more. Students from all five Roanoke County high schools learn marketable skills for post-graduation employment and further education in multiple fields.
The new CTE center will continue the health science related courses currently offered at BCAT. Additionally, RCCTC will offer an all-new health sciences course – dental assistant. As part of this investment, Carilion will continue to support the salaries for two teachers for the next five years.
RCPS and Carilion have a long history of partnership and collaboration. RCPS first provided health sciences instruction at the current Burton Center for Arts & Technology (BCAT) in 2016 with the addition of EMT classes, supported by the Jefferson College of Health Sciences, later, Radford University Carilion. In 2018, RCPS added introduction to nursing careers classes at BCAT, and in 2022 RCPS added radiological technician classes, both with direct support from Carilion.
Further, radiological technician courses have been temporarily housed at the new Carilion Children’s Pediatric Medicine – Tanglewood location. Once RCCTC opens, these classes will move to the new center.
“At Carilion, we’re committed to improving the health of the communities we serve. Collaborations like this are essential to that mission,” said Paul Hudgins, Chief Human Resource Officer at Carilion. “This next chapter for Roanoke County and our region will further strengthen connections between education, training and real career opportunities for students right here in Southwest Virginia. By investing in these programs, we’re helping students to explore their passions, building a strong, sustainable pipeline of talent that will serve our region for years to come.”
“As the national demand for nurses and other allied health professionals grows, we believe that individuals who live here, learn here, and train here are deeply connected to their neighbors and committed to serving them,” said Michelle Franklin, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Carilion. “It’s inspiring to see the next generation of care experts begin this journey and a privilege to be a part of their exploration and growth.”
“We are honored and grateful for Carilion’s continued support, not only for our health sciences curriculum, but also for their support of our school division and in providing opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools.
“We have long held the belief that education is a team process. It takes great teachers, great parents and great community partners to prepare great students – students that are opportunity ready and equipped with the skills, experiences, and mindset they need for success,” Dr. Nicely said.
