Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) is a hands-on career exploration program and talent development initiative that prepares students starting in middle school for future educational and career opportunities. The program embeds hands-on learning experiences with industry-aligned technologies directly into middle schools, equipping students with foundational knowledge, skills and exposure to career pathways.
Administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), GO TEC introduces students to strategic, technology-focused sectors and helps them identify the education and skills needed to pursue those careers. Through partnerships with school divisions, higher education institutions, employers and economic development organizations, GO TEC creates a seamless pathway from career exploration to advanced training and employment opportunities.
During the 2026-27 academic year, GO TEC will operate 87 labs across 84 Virginia middle schools from Hampton Roads to Southwest Virginia. GO TEC has grown (and will continue to grow) to meet increasing demand from educators, communities and employers seeking earlier exposure to career-connected learning experiences.
Program leaders are actively pursuing partnerships and projects to support expansion during the 2027-28 academic year and beyond, with additional schools interested in future implementation and opportunities emerging both in Virginia and nationally.
Career-Connected Learning
GO TEC aligns with career and technical education standards and uses a competency-based framework to connect classroom experiences with future career pathways. More substantive than traditional career awareness programs, GO TEC provides immersive, hands-on learning experiences that help students understand local industries, technologies and career opportunities.
Each instructional module combines technology-driven learning with hands-on activities that help students develop foundational knowledge and skills while exploring high-demand career fields. Students engage directly with equipment, tools and technologies used across high-demand industries, making learning relevant, memorable and impactful.
Standardized Curriculum. Flexible Delivery.
The GO TEC curriculum is flexible and scalable, allowing participating schools to customize implementation around local workforce priorities. Existing delivery models range from nine-week courses to semester-long offerings, depending on local needs and school schedules.
While the cadence is flexible, the equipment, curriculum and learning objectives are standardized across participating schools, ensuring high-quality experiences for students.
Linda Green / Vice President of Economic Development, IALR; Executive Director, SVRA
Dr. Chip Jones / Superintendent, Cumberland County Public Schools
Christy Shelton / GO TEC Teacher, Gretna Middle School
Travis Staton / President & CEO, EO
Brayla Pickeral / 8th grader at Chatham Middle School.
Keith Hare / 8th grader at Chatham Middle School
Jake Taylor / Interim Director, GO TEC
GO TEC Modules
| Electrical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Manufacturing Engineering |
| Automation & Robotics | Welding | Precision Machining |
| Healthcare Technologies | IT Coding & Networking | Metrology |
| Precision Agriculture | Energy |
With 11 instructional modules developed to date, GO TEC introduces students to fields such as manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, information technology and emerging technologies. Each of these modules provides students a memorable, hands-on introduction to those fields and career paths while helping connect classroom learning with future training, education and career opportunities.
See the GO TEC Impact
There are four GO TEC Teacher Training Labs across the Commonwealth, located at:
- IALR
- Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing
- Old Dominion University
- EO
GO TEC staff also operate the GO TEC Mobile Lab, which is equipped with all the same equipment as the middle school labs and can be utilized for teacher training or student experiences.
A Seamless Talent Pathway that Creates Value
Through partnerships with K-12 school systems, higher education institutions and industry, GO TEC creates a connected pathway that begins in middle school and continues through high school, dual enrollment, postsecondary education and workforce training opportunities.
GO TEC creates benefits that extend far beyond the classroom. Students gain exposure to meaningful career pathways, schools strengthen career-connected learning and employers become part of developing the future workforce. This innovative model creates lasting value for entire communities.
GO TEC Value:
- For Students: Students gain hands-on experiences that build confidence, introduce emerging technologies and help them connect classroom learning with real-world careers.
- For Schools: GO TEC provides a turnkey, industry-aligned program that strengthens career-connected learning, supports career and technical education objectives and helps students explore future opportunities earlier.
- For Industry Partners: GO TEC helps employers build awareness of high-demand industries and career pathways among students while supporting the development of future talent pipelines. Partners help students understand how classroom learning connects to real technologies, careers and local opportunities.
- For Communities: As a talent development workforce infrastructure model rather than simply a school-based initiative, GO TEC supports regional economic development efforts by strengthening long-term talent pipelines and enhancing workforce readiness.
Expanding through Partnership
Since launching as a pilot program during the 2018-19 academic year, GO TEC has expanded across Virginia through strong public-private partnerships and strategic investments, particularly from GO Virginia. Today, the program continues to grow and is actively pursuing additional partnerships and projects to support expansion in Virginia and beyond.
Opportunities exist for:
- Virginia public and private schools interested in implementing GO TEC.
- Industry partners and sponsors interested in supporting talent development and career-connected learning.
- Workforce development organizations and educational leaders interested in bringing GO TEC to new regions and states.
- Community organizations, foundations and other supporters committed to strengthening career readiness opportunities for students.
Building a Sustainable Future
GO TEC is in the process of implementing a business plan that diversifies revenue sources, reduces reliance on grants and strengthens long-term sustainability. This approach will support continued growth and ensure that even more students, schools and industry partners can continue to benefit from the program for years to come.
Building on strong demand, statewide momentum and established partnerships, GO TEC is focused on expanding impact while maintaining the quality, consistency and hands-on learning experiences that have become hallmarks of the program.
Connect with the GO TEC Team
Are you interested in getting GO TEC in your school division? Want to know more about our impact? Get in touch with us!
