Auburn Career Center, Perry Local Schools, and Lake Erie College Partner to Expand Welding Opportunities at Perry High School

Auburn Career Center, Perry Local Schools, and Lake Erie College are proud  to announce a new partnership to expand welding and Career Technical Education opportunities for  students at Perry High School and across Lake County. Through this collaboration, our institutions are  working together to strengthen workforce development, expand access to hands-on career training, and  create additional pathways for students to earn industry credentials and college credit while preparing for  high-demand careers in the skilled trades. 

This collaboration marks an important milestone for Auburn Career Center as the district prepares to  open its first satellite Career Technical Education program within one of its member school districts.  Through the partnership, Auburn Career Center will add a full-time welding instructor who will be based  at Perry High School, helping expand access to high-quality career training for students in Lake County. 

Students enrolled in the program will also have the opportunity to earn college credit through Lake Erie College, further strengthening the pathway from high school to postsecondary education and workforce  readiness. 

“This partnership represents exactly where Career Technical Education needs to go,” said Dr. Joe  Glavan, Superintendent of Auburn Career Center. “Our goal is to expand career exploration and hands on learning opportunities to as many students as possible. By partnering together, we are able to  maximize opportunities for students while minimizing costs through alignment, shared resources, and  collaboration between educational institutions. We are excited to open Auburn Career Center’s first  satellite program at one of our member districts and continue expanding access to Career Technical  Education across our region.” 

The partnership also builds upon Auburn Career Center’s growing collaboration with Lake Erie College.  Beginning this fall, Lake Erie College will open a satellite campus at Auburn Career Center, with more  than 18 college credits available to students through expanded dual-credit opportunities. 

“This partnership demonstrates what can happen when educational institutions work together with a  shared vision,” said Todd Porcello, Superintendent of Perry Local Schools. “Our welding partnership  with Lake Erie College has already created valuable opportunities for students, and adding Auburn  Career Center allows us to broaden that impact across Lake County. Together, we are preparing students  for successful futures in the skilled trades and workforce.”

Jennifer Schuller, President of Lake Erie College, added, “Lake Erie College is committed to creating  innovative educational partnerships that connect students to meaningful career pathways. This  collaboration between Perry Local Schools, Auburn Career Center, and Lake Erie College demonstrates how institutions can work together to provide students with valuable technical skills, college credit  opportunities, and direct connections to the workforce.” 

The expanded welding program will utilize Perry Local Schools’ newly renovated 2,400-square-foot  welding lab, which opened in the fall of 2024. The $600,000 renovation was partially funded through an  Ohio Workforce Improvement Program (IWIP) grant and significantly expanded Perry’s Career  Technical Education welding space. The upgraded facility includes modern welding equipment,  advanced ventilation systems, ten new welding machines, a plasma cutter, and additional metalworking  tools that allow students to pursue valuable industry credentials in materials manufacturing. 

As demand for skilled trades and Career Technical Education programs continues to grow across Ohio,  the partnership aims to provide students with access to modern training facilities, industry-aligned  instruction, college credit opportunities, and direct connections to high-demand careers in manufacturing  and the skilled trades. 

Auburn Career Center serves students from 11 member school districts and draws enrollment from 32  Districts across Northeast Ohio. Each year, Auburn provides high-quality, hands-on career and technical  education to over 900 high school students and more than 1,100 adult learners, equipping them with the  skills needed for both workforce success and continued education.