SALEM, Va.- – Gov. Terry McAuliffe went back to high school for one day. But this time he's learning from several Salem High School seniors about their career paths after graduation.
"They talked about the different experiences they've had outside the building and in the community figuring out what they want to do next," said McAuliffe.
During a roundtable discussion, a group of eight seniors is benefiting from a plan to remake high school education. Three years ago, McAuliffe started redesigning ways to prepare students for the modern workforce and create opportunities for them to get college credit in high school.
"Now in Virginia, leading the nation you, you go to high school, you get internship, externships, on the job training. We want you to have skills and learn them here before you move on. And that's a whole new concept," said McAuliffe.
And this plan has worked for Harlee Allen. The teen is preparing to work in the medical field.
"I am going to Virginia Western. I am in their health science program. So I take two classes a day there. I take anatomy and physiology and then I take medical terminology," said Allen.
Because she got an early start, she'll only have one more year of college left after high school.
"During a job shadow really gives you that and gives you what you need to know," said Allen.
Yudel Martinez says redesigning high schools is also beneficial in other ways.
"Definitely the push away from standards of learning test. His point of teachers were teaching for the test and instead teachers teaching for the students. It's probably the best ideas," said Martinez.
With several of the trade and technical schools recently closing in Virginia, Gov. McAuliffe also says revamping K through 12 education can help better prepare students for those types of jobs.