Welcome to Workforce Education at North Seattle Community College! Workforce Education manages programs that assist individuals who need basic skills (ABE/GED/ESL) and or specific job training preparation to enter or reenter the work force, as well as programs that meet the needs of the regional business community. Through our degree and certificate programs, Workforce Education helps students obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to achieve their professional and personal goals. Our programs maximize educational access, are student-centered, customer driven, market focused, relevant and rigorous. Workforce Education at North Seattle Community College is helping prepare tomorrow's workforce today.
Current and past Workforce Education newsletters are available for download from the newsletter archive.
- Worker Retraining
- Workfirst
- Limited English Proficiency Pathway
- Opportunity Scholarship Grant
- Food Stamp Employment & Training
- Career Services
- Internships
- Workforce Education Staff
- Department Office
Worker Retraining
The Worker Retraining Program is designed for students who are receiving unemployment benefits or who have exhausted their benefits and are dislocated workers. This program was developed in 1993 under the Workforce Employment Act to respond to the changes in the economy including the impact of lay-offs. The Program offers eligible students the opportunity to pursue new careers or to enhance their skills. The Program can pay for tuition, books, fees, tutoring, and provide academic and career counseling.
Weekly orientations are held on Tuesdays at 2:30pm in the College Center Building, Room 3449. Detailed information is available from the Worker Retraining section.
Workfirst
The WorkFirst Program is for students who are receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and low-income working parents, and is designed to help students gain the skills necessary to obtain employment, higher wages, or advancement in the workplace. The Program offers eligible parents assistance with tuition, fees, books, tutoring and work-study positions.
More information about the program and its components is available from the WorkFirst pages.
Limited English Proficiency Pathway
The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Pathway Program provides specialized services to refugees and immigrants who are receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) with limited English skills to increase their English and employability. The Program offers eligible parents assistance for tuition, fees, books, tutoring, work-study, and work experience positions.
Specifics about services, benefits, and eligibility is available from the LEP Pathway pages.
Opportunity Scholarship Grant
The Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program provides educational access and support for low-income adults to progress to their educational tipping point of 45 college credits—and beyond—in high-wage, high-demand careers. Reaching the tipping point allows the least prepared individuals to increase job skills and knowledge through career pathways. Eligible students may receive funds to cover tuition, fees, and up to $1,000 for books and supplies for 45 college credits. Support services such as tutoring, career advising, college success classes, emergency child care, and emergency transportation are also part of the Opportunity Grant program.
Services, eligibility, and benefits information can be found on the Opportunity Grant pages.
Food Stamp Employment & Training
The Food Stamp Employment & Training Program (FS E&T) provides food stamp recipients who are not receiving TANF with training and employment assistance. These individuals may be unemployed or working up to 25 hours a week. The FS E&T Program assists Food Stamp recipients who are in need of basic education, high school, GED/ABE, ESL or vocational training in order to increase their opportunities for employment. The program offers eligible individuals assistance with tuition, fees, books, tutoring, and transportation.
Additional information about this program, including FAQs, is available from the Food Stamp Employment & Training pages.
Career Services
Career Services offers students and prospective students support to explore careers, identify a career path, improve job search skills or find internships and/or permanent employment. The office provides individual career advising and workshops, facilitates Fall and Spring career fairs, and sponsors on-campus employer visits and other special career-related activities.
Detailed career assistance information is available from the Career Services pages and is specifically organized for students, employers, and faculty.
Internships
Internships are a critical aspect of each student's education. The purpose of the internship program is to provide students with assistance and the hands-on experience they need to successfully transition into their new career. Internships provide employers with a highly effective and low-cost recruiting service. Everybody wins with internships.
Internship information, including contacts and forms, is available from the Internships pages.
Workforce Education Staff
| Staff Member | Specialty / Title | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celva Boon | Opportunity Scholarship Grant Specialist | 206-529-6063 | cboon@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Mary Carothers | Workfirst Coordinator / Intake Specialist | 206-527-3760 | mcarothers@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Jon Frodema | Employment Specialist | 206-527-3618 | jfrodema@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Felicia Ishino-Amen | Student Success Specialist | 206-527-7307 | fishino@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Edil Jama | LEP Pathway Coordinator | 206-529-6074 | ejama@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Kristi Lagrutta | Workfirst Family Support Specialist | 206-527-3769 | klagrutta@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Jackie Perry | Employment Security Dept. | 206-527-3764 | jperry@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Krissy Rustia | Program Assistant | 206-527-3787 | krustia@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Brianne Sanchez | Financial Aid | 206-528-4703 | bsanchez@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Janet Sekijima | Career Specialist / Career Services | 206-527-3769 | sekijima@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Kurt Simmons | Internship Coordinator | 206-527-3686 | ksimmons@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Jan Stephenson | Director, Workforce Education | 206-527-3727 | jstephenson@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Misti Uptain | FSET Support Specialist | 206-529-6101 | muptain@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Tina Wang | Student Success Specialist | 206-527-7308 | twang@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Carol Wells | Worker Retraining Program Coordinator | 206-527-3771 | cwells@sccd.ctc.edu |
Department Office
TB 1648
(East side of building)
Hours
Monday – Friday, 8am – 4:30pm
Telephone
206-527-3787
Mailing Address
Workforce Education North Seattle Community College 9600 College Way North 3NC2343 Seattle, WA 98103-3599
Workforce Education programs are specifically designed to reduce or eliminate barriers to training and employability.
© 2003—2008