Virginia State Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams Visits J.E.J. Moore Middle School’s Innovative GO TEC Career Connections Laboratory Space

April 8, 2026

J.E.J. Moore Middle School hosted Virginia State Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, for a campus visit that highlighted student learning and innovation. During her time at the school, Del. Pope Adams met with students and staff and toured the newly established GO TEC Career Connections lab, where students engage in a variety of hands-on Career and Technical Education (CTE) experiences.

Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams (right) learns about the GO TEC welding station with Courtney Massengill (left), a GO TEC training coordinator, which uses augmented reality to simulate welding without the need for real-life units, while allowing students to learn essential skills in the always-in-demand career sector. (PGCPS Photo)

During the morning visit, Del. Pope Adams joined Prince George County Public Schools leadership, Prince George County School Board representatives, and members of the locally based Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) and GO TEC as CTE teacher Ms. Christina Ratliff delivered a tech-focused lesson on animation and coding to her sixth-grade Career Investigations class. The course integrates GO TEC’s robust library of content into a course that delves into a variety of career exploration opportunities, while linking real-world concepts to the curriculum, including economics and cost of living.

This school year marks the GO TEC Career Connections laboratory’s first year of operations at J.E.J. Moore Middle School, providing students the opportunity to participate in units spanning technology and engineering. In collaboration with Prince George-based CCAM, the GO TEC Career Connections exploratory lab features units including information technology coding and networking, mechanical and electrical engineering, welding using augmented reality technology, robotics, and automation. 

Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams chats with students as they complete an animation project during their Career Investigations class. (PGCPS Photo)

GO TEC Career Connections lab, like the one at J.E.J. Moore Middle School and other GO TEC-partner school divisions across Virginia, use equipment comparable to that used in various industry settings. The goal of the program at the middle school level is to introduce students to various career pathways and pique their interest in one or more of them, supported by high-quality teachers, such as Ms. Ratliff, Moore Middle School’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, who receive hands-on training and support throughout the year. 

As outlined by GO TEC, short for “Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers,” the collaborative project aims to support the development of a skilled regional workforce aligned with changing industry demands. Students are introduced to these pathways in middle school and continue their exploration through dual enrollment in high school and into postsecondary education. The effort focuses on expanding IT, advanced manufacturing, and STEM fields by cultivating a talent pipeline beginning in K–12.

From L to R: Mr. Lorin Sodell (CCAM), Mrs. Jessica Vlkojan & Mrs. Jill Andrews (Prince George School Board), PGCPS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle, Delegate Kimberly Pope Adams, Mr. Nick Ligatti (Moore Middle School Principal), Ms. Courtney Massengill (GO TEC) Ms. Christina Ratliff (Moore MS CTE Teacher), Mr. Jason Chandler (PGCPS Secondary Director), Mrs. Ashton Girolmo (PGCPS CTE Director).

The experiences offered through GO TEC further the division’s goals of exposing students to career pathways throughout their educational journey. Starting at the elementary level with classroom lessons and special events, such as career days and PGCPS’ annual Technology Field Day, students learn about career pathways and advanced technology. As they advance through grades 6-12, GO TEC lab experiences, exploratory classes, and other hands-on events allow students to discover those potential careers that interest them most. 

To learn more about the GO TEC program, visit their website at https://www.gotecva.org.