Volume 2 Issue 2 | March 2026

We’re excited to launch the NENC Career Pathways Foundational Microcredential, a new professional development opportunity designed for educators, career advisors, workforce professionals, and community partners across Northeast North Carolina.

This microcredential helps participants build a shared understanding of career pathways, strengthen career readiness practices, and better connect the people, programs, and resources that support students and job seekers in our region. Participants complete a short interactive training and a series of practical activities they can apply directly in their work.

Those who complete the microcredential earn recognition as a Regional Pathways Connector – Foundational, along with a digital badge and CEU credit where applicable.

Learn more and get started.

What Is a Microcredential?

Microcredentials are short, focused courses designed to validate specific skills or competencies, resulting in a digital badge or certificate. They provide targeted expertise for professional upskilling. Think of a microcredential as a smaller and faster alternative to a traditional degree.

AgExplorer: Educator Resources and More from FFA


This comprehensive career exploration platform from FFA offers students an inside look at over 230 unique careers across 12 agricultural focus areas through interactive profiles and Virtual Field Trips. Educators can utilize a robust suite of free resources, including lesson plans, implementation guides, and a "Career Finder" quiz to help students align their personal interests with high-demand professions in agriscience.

Grant Opportunities List from N.C. Environmental Education

N.C. Environmental Education keeps this list of up-to-date grant opportunities, listed in order by application deadline and month due. Bookmark this gold mine!



Games to Help Students Learn

Games are a great way to help students learn and retain practical information. Some of the most practical tools can be some of the most difficult to grasp. That's why RulerGame.net has a collection of simple games to help students with everything from counting change to reading a pressure gauge.

Save the dates from STEM East Network

Industry in Schools Month, April 13-30
STEM East Industry in Schools Month is designed to introduce middle and high school students across Eastern North Carolina to a wide variety of local career opportunities. Be on the lookout for the STEM East Industry in Schools Month list of events and offerings in your area, coming soon to the STEM East events page.

Regional Industry in Schools Symposium
Join STEM East for a redesigned interactive symposium connecting career awareness and classroom standard instruction to provide an authentic context for learning about their eight industry clusters.

Pick the location that works best for you and apply. Teachers will receive a $300 education stipend for attending all three days.

• Wilson, NC—June 23-25
• Elizabeth City, NC—July 14-16
• New Bern, NC—July 28-30
  

High School Clean Energy Fair

The Center for Energy Education is hosting their annual educational event where high school students can learn about clean energy careers and network with industry leaders from across the region.

🗓 Friday, May 6

🕙 10:00AM - 1:00 PM

📍 460 Airport Road, Roanoke Rapids, NC

Registration links for schools and exhibitors are coming soon. Stay tuned to the Center for Energy Education social media.

Biotechnology is the use of biological process for industrial and medical purposes, especially in genetic and pharmaceutical research.

In North Carolina, this industry is entering a period of historic expansion, particularly in the BioPharma Crescent (a five-county region situated along I-95 and US 264, including Edgecombe, Nash, Pitt, and Wilson counties in Northeast North Carolina).

Sample careers in biotechnology include:

• Biomedical Engineer
• Chemist
• Medical Laboratory Technician
• Microbiologist

Learn more about the Biotechnology Career Pathway.
Explore careers in Biotechnology and learn about regional college 
and university programs in the field.


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