A handshake today represents far more than a job offer for Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT) student William Breault. It represents the growing power of Career and Technical Education (CTE) to connect students directly to high-skill, high-wage careers before they even graduate high school.
Breault, a Thornton Academy student in BRCOT’s Manufacturing Technology program, recently signed a full-time apprenticeship agreement with Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick following his successful experience as a pre-apprentice with the company during high school. Upon graduation, Breault will spend a year in the apprenticeship program gaining valuable skills before having the opportunity to determine where he would like to continue his career within the company.
The signing marks the second time a student from BRCOT’s Manufacturing Technology program has committed to an apprenticeship opportunity with Pratt & Whitney, underscoring the strength of the partnership between local industry and career and technical education.
“Will is the kind of student every instructor hopes for,” said Tim Fenimore, Manufacturing Technology Instructor at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “He is motivated, dependable, and always willing to tackle a challenge. What really stands out is his ability to think critically and problem-solve, which are essential skills in advanced manufacturing. Watching him grow through this program and earn this opportunity with Pratt & Whitney has been incredibly rewarding.”
BRCOT’s Manufacturing Technology Program provides students with hands-on, project-based learning experiences focused on machining, blueprint reading, CNC programming, precision measurement, and advanced manufacturing techniques. Students gain industry-relevant skills while working with professional-grade equipment and learning directly from experienced instructors.
Programs like these are producing measurable results. Approximately 98% of BRCOT graduates either continue on to post-secondary education or move directly into well-paying careers in the workforce.
During the signing event, a Pratt & Whitney representative shared his own connection to BRCOT and the long-term impact of CTE pathways.
“I’m a graduate of the Center of Technology myself, and I started my career at Pratt & Whitney right after high school,” shared Senior Technical Training Leader Josh Dubois during the ceremony. “The Manufacturing Program gave me the foundation and hands-on experience I needed to succeed, and I’ve been with Pratt & Whitney for 17 years. Seeing students like Will follow that same pathway is exciting because these opportunities can truly lead to lifelong careers.”
For Breault, the pathway from classroom to career became clear through his pre-apprenticeship experience with Pratt & Whitney, where he was able to apply technical skills in a real manufacturing environment while building professional relationships and industry knowledge.
“Career and technical education gives students opportunities to see the direct connection between what they are learning in school and the careers available to them after graduation,” said Paulette Bonneau, Director of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “Partnerships with industry leaders like Pratt & Whitney are invaluable because they allow students to gain authentic workplace experience while employers build a pipeline of highly skilled future employees.”
The partnership also reflects the increasing demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing and aerospace industries across Maine and beyond. Apprenticeship opportunities allow students to earn while they learn, often entering careers with little to no college debt while gaining nationally recognized industry experience.
As Breault prepares to graduate and begin the next chapter of his career, school leaders say his success story is another example of how CTE programs are helping students launch meaningful futures through hands-on learning, mentorship, and strong community partnerships.
Pictured L-R: BRCOT Manufacturing Technology Instructor Tim Fenimore, Former BRCOT student and Pratt & Whitney’s Senior Technical Training Leader Josh Dubois, BRCOT Director Paulette Bonneau, BRCOT student and TA Senior Will Breault, Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray, BRCOT Assistant Director Michael Bailey, Pratt & Whitney’s Training and Apprentice Manager Candace Marchand, and BRCOT Career Pathways Coordinator Erik Ryder.