The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Montgomery County Public Schools and regional partners are proud to announce the launch of Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) Career Connections Labs in six middle schools across the Roanoke and New River Valley areas in GO Virginia Region 2.

Thanks to nearly $1 million in GO Virginia funding and over $500,000 in matching support from local and regional sources, each of these labs are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025:

• Christiansburg Middle School (Montgomery County)
• Dalton Intermediate School (City of Radford)
• Hidden Valley Middle School (Roanoke County)
• Narrows High School (Giles County)
• Pulaski County Middle School (Pulaski County)
• William Byrd Middle School (Roanoke County)

“Expanding GO TEC into six additional Region 2 middle schools means thousands more students will gain early exposure to high-demand career fields. These labs give students hands-on experience with technologies that are shaping the future of work in Virginia. We’re excited to continue building momentum and reaching new communities.” – Angela Brown, GO TEC Director

Hands-On Learning with Real Career Pathways

GO TEC Career Connections Labs are designed to spark student interest in middle school by connecting classroom experiences directly to high-demand, high-wage career fields. The program introduces students to more than a dozen technology and engineering pathways, including Automation & Robotics, Precision Machining, Healthcare Technologies, IT Coding & Networking, Metrology, and Welding.

These labs are standardized across the Commonwealth, ensuring that all students receive hands-on, industry-relevant training that builds awareness of in-demand careers.

“We are delighted to add GO Virginia Region 2 to the GO TEC program. GO TEC is helping schools across Virginia connect education with workforce needs in a meaningful way. By exposing students to manufacturing, engineering and healthcare-related career pathways in middle school in an applied learning environment, we’re strengthening the talent pipeline and supporting long-term economic development growth. This expansion is a win for students, educators and employers alike.” – Telly Tucker, President, IALR

“Implementing the GO TEC Career Connection Lab at Christiansburg Middle School is a strategic step forward for workforce development in GO Virginia Region 2. This hands-on lab delivers quality career exploration in Advanced Manufacturing and other critical sectors. The initiative represents a critical investment in the Region’s future talent pipeline because its effectiveness is rooted in a unique, regionally collaborative model. Through this partnership, manufacturers and educators work together to build career awareness and prepare the next generation for high-demand occupational pathways right here in our community.” – Megan R. Atkinson, Ed.S.
Career & Technical Education & Business Partnerships Administrator
Montgomery County Public Schools

“We’re pleased to see schools and industry partners across the New River Valley and Roanoke County step up to put the GO TEC program to work in these communities. Not only will this support key regional initiatives already underway to grow talent pipelines for advanced manufacturing and life sciences, it will change lives, opening students eyes to opportunities to grow great careers close to home.” – John Provo, Ph.D., Executive Director, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement

A Growing Statewide Impact

The GO TEC program began as a pilot in Danville and Pittsylvania County in 2018. Today, the initiative is scaling across Virginia, with 76 schools projected to host labs during the 2025–26 academic year, reaching over 11,000 middle school students annually.

Even as schools in Roanoke and the New River Valley come online, IALR and its partners are actively working with leaders and educators in GO Virginia Region 2 and other regions of the Commonwealth to pursue new grants and funding opportunities. These efforts will ensure GO TEC continues to expand across the Commonwealth, preparing students across Virginia to explore career pathways that lead to strong postsecondary outcomes and economic growth for their communities.

About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses on Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg and the cities of Martinsville and Danville.