Rutherford County Builds STEM Talent for High-Tech Industries
Local schools and colleges keep a pipeline of talent flowing to high-tech industries. As industries evolve and the demand for STEM talent accelerates, Rutherford County is addressing workforce development from all angles.
From newly launched mobile science, technology, engineering and math labs rolling into Rutherford County Schools to cutting-edge quantum research underway at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), the region is investing in students at every stage of the pipeline and equipping them with the career-ready skills businesses need.
Early Exposure
At the K–12 level, Rutherford County Schools is expanding access to hands-on STEM learning through mobile labs that introduce middle school students to careers in health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation and construction as well as other STEM-related fields.
“We do a really good job of exposing our high school students to career opportunities. We offer several career and technical education courses, and we have hundreds of students who graduate high school each year with industry certifications already under their belt,” says James Evans, chief communications officer for Rutherford County Schools. “These mobile labs, though, are designed for our middle schoolers because we want to get their attention and show them what their options are before they even register for high school.”
Traveling classrooms bring interactive lessons, advanced technology and equipment directly to schools across the district, ensuring these resources are available to all students.
“Students learn how to take the vital signs of a patient inside the health care lab. They also can learn about electronic vehicle repair, which is a growing part of the auto industry,” Evans says. “We know from experience that hands-on learning is so valuable. You need the theory, of course, the textbook and the classroom work – but actually putting your hands on something and seeing how it all works together is what really sparks students’ imaginations and encourages them to explore career opportunities.”
Elite Innovation
Rutherford County’s workforce development strategy doesn’t stop at high school graduation. MTSU is priming the next stage of the talent pipeline through its Quantum Research Interdisciplinary Science and Education (QRISE) Center.
The QRISE Center allows students to engage directly with emerging quantum technologies that are transforming industries.
“Quantum science and technology are increasingly central to U.S. economic competitiveness, national security and advanced manufacturing, driving major federal and state investments nationwide,” says Hanna Terletska, director of the QRISE Center at MTSU. “The QRISE Center grew out of this context.” Terletska says the QRISE Center is a game-changer for Rutherford County because quantum science is no longer theoretical or distant; it’s a rapidly expanding sector with real workforce implications. By positioning MTSU as a contributor to this ecosystem, the region is boosting credibility and capacity in a field that will shape the next generation of high-tech jobs.
“QRISE was built on the premise that long-term workforce growth in quantum technologies cannot rely solely on a small number of elite institutions but must engage emerging research universities that educate a large share of the STEM workforce,” Terletska says.
Strategic Synergy
Beyond campus, the QRISE Center works with regional partners, such as Rutherford County Schools and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, to strengthen STEM pipelines and ensure curricula are aligned with regional workforce needs.
“STEM education is important because it develops critical thinking, problem-solving and technical skills that are essential across every industry,” says Kaitlin Salyer, senior vice president, education and workforce development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. “Rutherford County continues to attract a wide range of industries, all of which rely on a highly skilled, sustainable workforce.”
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce plays a strategic role in aligning education and training programs with the real-world needs of the workforce by bringing education and industry together in meaningful ways.
“We collaborate with educators, employers and community partners to support career awareness, work-based learning and classroom experiences that reflect how these skills are used across nearly every career field,” Salyer says. “By helping students understand the relevance and application of these skills early on, we create clearer pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers while ensuring local employers have access to a skilled workforce.”
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