AMANDA, OH (Sept. 4, 2025) – Amanda-Clearcreek Local Schools is giving students new pathways to long-term career success through expanded career readiness programs and community partnerships.
This year, the district partnered with Team DDS, Inc., a local dental and medical office construction company, to offer a plumbing apprenticeship to senior Kaden Snodgrass. The program not only gave Snodgrass real-world experience during his final year of high school but also secured him a full-time job with Team DDS after graduation.
“We only have four short years with our students, so we strive to give them as much knowledge and experience as possible to ensure they have successful futures,” said Superintendent Dr. Timothy Edwards. “Career readiness looks different for every student, and we want to provide customized opportunities to prepare them for either college or the workforce.”
Inspired by his grandfather, who has worked as a plumber at Team DDS for more than 16 years, Snodgrass pursued the apprenticeship instead of a traditional college route. His training at Team DDS led to a permanent position on the plumbing and medical gas team. He also plans to complete a year-long specialized plumbing course to earn his apprenticeship certificate and eventually his license.
“If the career readiness opportunity wouldn’t have been available, I would not be where I am today,” Snodgrass said. “Instead of an apprenticeship, I probably would have just worked somewhere after school. This program gave me a real career.”
Team DDS President Dee Mason praised the partnership, saying, “We were able to train Kaden with the high degree of excellence our team employs on every project. Offering him a full-time position after graduation was a natural next step.”
The initiative is part of A-C’s Transitions and Career Path course, which helps students in grades 6–12 explore both college and trade options. According to the school’s 2025 graduate survey, 43% of students chose a non-college career path. Programs like Snodgrass’s apprenticeship are designed to support those students with meaningful, skill-based opportunities.
With support from the Fairfield County Workforce Development Center and Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools, Amanda-Clearcreek continues to expand partnerships that connect students with shadowing, apprenticeships, and hands-on training — preparing them for success in the workforce while strengthening the local economy.
