DOE leaders tour Palm Beach State College’s workforce training programs

When senior U.S. Department of Education (DOE) officials stepped inside Palm Beach State College’s Public Safety Training Center this week, they didn’t just see classrooms—they experienced how simulation labs, fire engines and police scenarios are shaping Florida’s next generation of highly skilled workers.

Their visit on Feb. 18 underscored how Florida has become the nation’s leader in workforce education and how Palm Beach State College is helping drive that success through immersive hands-on programs that mirror the demands of real-world careers. 

U.S. Department of Education Undersecretary Nicholas Kent, U.S. Deputy Undersecretary James Bergeron, and Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell led the delegation as part of a weeklong tour of Florida colleges known for workforce impact. 

“Florida is doing so much great work in the education space and has led the nation in terms of keeping education affordable. You have great leadership in the Department of Education and in the Florida system of higher education,” Kent said. “That’s why we wanted to come and spend a significant amount of time on your campuses this week, is to learn from you, take it back to Washington and see what we can replicate across the country.”

The visit included a roundtable with leaders from the DOE, FLDOE and PBSC on the future of hands-on workforce training, barriers to student completion and strategies for strengthening career pathways. PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D., emphasized the College’s focus on ensuring students not only start their programs but complete them. 

“The one thing I'd like for us to be known for is an institution where students finish what they start,” Parker said. “We have a commitment, a responsibility for our students to find ways for them to finish.”

Among those participating in the discussion was PBSC Student Trustee Michael Derilus, who offered a student perspective on the impact of workforce programs. A Lake Worth native and first-generation college student pursuing a career in computer science, Derilus said his courses are equipping him with the skills he will need and highlighted the importance of organizations that keep students engaged, such as Coding with the Doctors and the Ethical Hackers Club.

“It's been a long journey, but I know this institution is definitely moving me in the right way, and it's helped me and my community in more ways than I can explain,” Derilus said. 

After the roundtable, DOE and FLDOE officials toured the Public Safety Training Center, beginning with the opportunity to drive a simulated fire truck. The group also visited the Police Academy for a hands-on demonstration of the VirTra police shooting simulator, where they participated in several simulated scenarios. They also stopped at the EMS program to observe a paramedic demonstration featuring students responding to a simulated emergency. 

Through these immersive experiences, leaders gained a firsthand view of how PBSC is helping Florida remain a national model for workforce readiness—training students not only to enter the workforce, but to serve, protect and elevate their communities.

Visit the Flickr album to view more photos of the event.