The Pipelines & Pathways Program is designed to help Vermont students successfully prepare for and access employment opportunities. The program began as BDCC’s Workforce Center of Excellence “Fast Tracks to Success” program working with high school students, and has grown from field trips and the annual Sophomore Summit, into a program with year-round classes, events, professional connections and faculty partnerships in every Windham County high school. In the 2025-6 school year, P3 served over 1,100 students and engaged over a hundred volunteers, organizations, colleges and businesses.
P3 is designed to leverage Vermont’s Act 77 and Flexible Pathways to better connect regional students with great career pathways. We work together with school faculty, supporting and strengthening career education and preparation, connections with real professionals and work experience, as well as training and education opportunities. Our goal is for every student in Windham County to access to high-wage, high growth careers in their own communities. To do this, students need to finish high school with a plan and the skills to achieve their personal goals.
P3 has been recognized through numerous awards as a groundbreaking youth career education program, by national and international economic development organizations.
One portion of the program, the “Scope and Sequence of Career Education” outlines concrete skills, behaviors, and knowledge needed to pursue these career paths.
Program Coordinator Christy Betit supports career preparedness activities, and facilitates CEO’s, Human Resource Specialists, and Employees representing specialized career paths to give presentations and guest lectures throughout the year, lead a number of site-visits.
This program addresses both Career Awareness (knowledge of local hiring trends) and Career Readiness ( knowledge of skills and behaviors needed to excel).
This course works with students on identifying personal education and training/skill gaps with regard to their desired occupation or career path. This information is used to help participants identify the most relevant and accessible resources within Windham County that best prepare them to reach high-wage opportunities. This information is used to develop an extended Personal Learning Plan to include Personal Career-Education Planning.
The objectives of the program are:
P3 was originally launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023, at the end of that pilot phase, P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center, the West River Education District, and the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont. Portions of the program also receive support through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program of the Northern Border Regional Commission.
QUESTIONS? REACH OUT TO CHRISTY!
For more information, contact Christy Betit, our Pipelines & Pathways Manager, or contact a guidance counselor at your respective high school.
