From Sparks to Skills:

How Plumas Charter School is Forging Futures

Plumas Charter School (PCS), a rural K–12 school nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, is proving that small teams can drive big change. With support from state workforce grants and local partnerships, the school is innovating to create new pathways for students seeking career opportunities close to home.

In this region, access to jobs, training, and resources has always been limited. That challenge became even more urgent in 2021 when the Dixie Fire — the second-largest wildfire in California’s history — scorched nearly one million acres of forest and destroyed the town of Greenville. Rebuilding after the fire underscored the need for career technical education (CTE) programs, especially in advanced manufacturing to address workforce shortages in the sector.

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News

Vision 2030 Non-Credit Regional Workshop

In collaboration with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Woodland Community College, and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, North Orange Continuing Education held the North Far North Regional Noncredit Education Workshop. The Vision 2030 Noncredit Regional Workshop was held on August 27, 2025 at Woodland Community College.

For more information, review the slide deck from the workshop here.

LTCC Cyber Security Student Graduates

Gets Hired, Leads Others & Launches Cyber Security Club!

Lake Tahoe Community College student Andy Lind graduated the CS Program with an Associate’s Degree after attending and working as a student intern in LTCC’s IT Department.

Andy was ultimately hired by Lake Tahoe Community College in the Information Technology Department Department and has continued showing interest in sharing opportunities in the field with others!

Andy attended the LTCC Cyber Security Advisory in Spring where data was shared  on enrollments and labor information. The advisory wondered how to engage more students from area high schools who may be interested in pursuing Cyber Security programs and how to bring additional opportunities for current  students

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Directors of Employer Partnerships

Healthcare Education & Workforce Summit

Brings Partners Together

On Friday, October 10, 2025, more than 60 educators, healthcare professionals, tribal leaders, and workforce partners gathered at the Blue Lake Casino Hotel’s Sapphire Palace in Blue Lake, California, for the Humboldt County Healthcare Education and Workforce Summit. The summit was made possible through the collaboration of the Redwood Coast K16 Educational Collaborative, Humboldt County Workforce Development Board, North Far North Regional Consortium, College of the Redwoods, Cal Poly Humboldt, Humboldt County Office of Education, and the Humboldt Del Norte Medical Society. Key planners and contributors included Angela Shull, Logan Ashworth, Amanda Lankila, Montel Vanderhorck, William Row, Pamela Heston Bechtol, and Megan Tunzi, whose coordination and leadership helped guide discussions focused on closing training gaps, expanding work based learning, and strengthening the regional healthcare talent pipeline. Additional support was provided by six Directors of Employer Partnerships from across the North Far North region, who assisted with breakout sessions and contributed to regional coordination efforts.

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Center of Excellence

Stay Informed with the NFN COE Labor Market Research Newsletter

The North Far North Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research (NFN COE) provides timely insights and resources to support community colleges, workforce partners, and regional stakeholders. Our first quarterly newsletter will be released at the end of October—sign up now so you don’t miss it!

Our quarterly newsletters will deliver:

• Data on regional industry and occupational trends

• Briefs and reports on in-demand careers

• Tools for program planning and workforce development

• Updates on events, projects, and collaborations 

Sign up here today:  

We look forward to sharing valuable insights with you!

The NFN COE Team,

Ebony J. Benzing, Co-Director | Sara Phillips, Co-Director | Anna Hoehenrieder, Research Analyst