Educators

K-12 teachers, faculty, and school counselors in the Lynchburg region have several options to help equip students for the next stage in life.

• Worlds of Opportunity is an annual career expo that connects middle school students directly to regional employers across energy, construction, skilled trades, financial services, healthcare, wireless & communications, and more. Students experience hands-on career exploration that sparks real interest.
• The Educator Workforce Academy offers day-long workshops where education teams learn from regional businesses about their in-demand skills, then collaborate to apply findings to curriculum-based learning for students.
• FastForward, a short-term workforce training program run by Virginia’s Community Colleges, helps students earn industry credentials and certifications for the most in-demand jobs across the Commonwealth. Many programs offer dual-enrollment courses with Lynchburg region community colleges, allowing students to get qualified quicker.
• Virginia Career Works Central Region provides programs to help students build skills, with financial assistance highly-motivated individuals.

Teachers and school faculty can also find Virginia’s best practices for CTE training and additional resources at the Virginia Department of Education website.

College students in the Lynchburg region have access to multiple career fairs throughout the year, ranging from degree-specific events to large community hiring fairs. These events connect students directly to regional employers actively looking to hire emerging talent.

• Liberty University Career Services hosts degree-specific career fairs throughout the school year, connecting students to employers seeking their particular skillsets.
• Central Virginia Community College hosts seasonal career fairs open to the entire community, bringing together more than 45 local employers looking to hire across industries and experience levels.
• One of the region’s largest employers, Centra Health, hosts hiring events throughout the year where students can learn about healthcare careers, receive resume assistance, and get career coaching for all Centra positions.
• Counties throughout the region also host career fairs worth exploring, including the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce job fair that has been running for over a decade. In 2025, it hosted more than 30 employers including Delta Star, Georgia Pacific, and Cintas.
• Virginia Career Works Central Region frequently hosts job fairs, with events regularly posted on their Facebook page.