Software Engineering Instructor

Per Scholas North Carolina "Unlocking Potential" Fundraiser, highlighting workforce partnerships and expanding pathways to tech careers. May 19, 2026 Charlotte, NC - May 19, 2026 - Per Scholas North Carolina convened employers, philanthropic partners, alumni, and community leaders on Friday evening for its annual fundraiser, Unlocking Potential: A Celebration of People and Possibility, held at The Terrace at Cedar Hill in Charlotte. The event highlighted the organization's continued statewide growth and expanding network of partners investing in no-cost, industry-aligned technology training. The evening underscored a shared message: when access meets opportunity, talent can be unlocked at scale. Expanding access across North Carolina. Per Scholas North Carolina leaders shared that the program has now trained more than 1,200 learners statewide, contributing an estimated $26 million in new annual wages to the North Carolina economy. The organization continues to expand across urban and rural communities, preparing learners for careers in IT support, cybersecurity, software engineering, and cloud computing. Recognizing partners driving workforce impact. The evening honored several outstanding partners whose investments are expanding access to technology careers and strengthening economic mobility across North Carolina. The BlackRock Foundation received the Opportunity Builder Award for its sustained commitment to workforce development. With their most recent investment into Per Scholas North Carolina, more than 300 North Carolinians have launched careers in cybersecurity, software engineering, and data analytics - earning on average 2.6 times their previous income. The award was accepted by Marc Balizer on behalf of The BlackRock Foundation. TEKsystems and Leaton Harris were recognized with the Workforce Champion Award for their leadership in connecting Per Scholas graduates to meaningful employment opportunities and advancing inclusive hiring practices. Through its partnership with TEKsystems, the organization has played a critical role in translating training into real careers for learners across the region. The Leon Levine Foundation was also honored with its North Star Award for its transformative investment in scaling Per Scholas North Carolina statewide. Through a $7 million commitment, the Foundation is helping expand access to no-cost, employer-aligned training across urban and rural communities, supporting the organization's goal of reaching 1,000 learners annually by 2030. Looking ahead. Per Scholas North Carolina reiterated its vision to train 1,000 learners annually by 2030 and expand into emerging infrastructure roles tied to data centers, AI systems, and advanced manufacturing. Per Scholas North Carolina expressed gratitude to its sponsors, including The BlackRock Foundation, TD Bank, Morgan Stanley, Corvid Technologies, Vaco by Highspring, The Patel Family, Match Sanderson, Querri, Josh Lieberman, and Raj and Namisha Srivastava, supporting continued expansion across the state. As workforce demand accelerates, Per Scholas remains focused on building scalable pathways into technology careers and ensuring learners across North Carolina have access to opportunity.

Per Scholas launches first-ever Critical Infrastructure training cohort in collaboration with Microsoft to build the next generation of data center talent. May 07, 2026, 08:43 ET NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Per Scholas today announced a new collaboration with Microsoft to launch its first-ever Critical Infrastructure cohort, a 15-week, intensive training program designed to prepare learners for high-demand roles supporting the systems that power today's digital economy. The inaugural Critical Facilities Technician Training in Atlanta, powered by Microsoft, will equip learners with the technical and operational skills needed to maintain and protect mission-critical infrastructure across data centers and advanced IT environments. "Over the last several years, we've seen firsthand that the growth of data centers and AI infrastructure is outpacing traditional hiring pathways," said Brittany Murrey, Executive Vice President, Talent Solutions at Per Scholas. "This partnership with Microsoft is about building something fundamentally different - a dedicated, demand-driven talent pipeline that prepares individuals to step into mission-critical environments with the skills, discipline, and confidence to contribute on day one." "The expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure is transforming how we think about workforce readiness," said Mike Egan, General Manager, Microsoft TechSpark. "By working with Per Scholas to co-design this program, we're helping ensure students are equipped with the skills that lead to direct careers and are working together to build a talent pipeline and create opportunity for people locally." Building Job-Ready Critical Infrastructure Talent The Atlanta-based cohort will run for 15 weeks, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, beginning June 22, 2026. Delivered live and instructor-led, the program is designed for individuals with no prior experience. Through more than 400 hours of immersive, hands-on training, learners will develop the skills required to operate and maintain critical electrical, mechanical, and control systems in high-reliability environments. Participants will gain experience in: * Mission-Critical Operations: Maintaining continuous uptime across electrical, cooling, and control systems * Advanced Troubleshooting: Diagnosing faults in systems such as UPS, ATS, and cooling infrastructure using alarm data and root-cause methodologies * Standard Operating Procedures: Executing SOPs, MOPs, and EOPs to safely manage maintenance, incidents, and emergency response * Systems Analysis: Interpreting sensor data, system logs, and performance trends to identify risks and inefficiencies * Technical Communication: Producing shift logs, incident reports, and coordinating across teams and vendors in 24/7 environments Learners will also train on industry-relevant systems and tools, including building management systems, HVAC infrastructure, electrical distribution, and backup power systems such as generators and UPS. In addition to technical training, the program emphasizes professional readiness and AI-supported problem-solving, preparing graduates to think critically, communicate effectively, and operate with discipline in high-stakes environments. Participants will earn industry-recognized certifications, including: * EPA 608 * OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Certification * NFPA 70E From Training to a Scalable Workforce Pipeline This collaboration builds on Per Scholas' proven model of delivering employer-aligned training at scale. In the past three years alone, the organization has trained more than 500 data center technicians, many of whom are now working in mission-critical environments, including Microsoft data centers. By co-designing curriculum with Microsoft and aligning training directly to real-world job requirements, the program creates a predictable, repeatable pipeline of talent - reducing hiring friction and accelerating time to productivity. "This is not about a single cohort," Murrey added. "It's about building a long-term, scalable solution that meets the growing demand for critical infrastructure talent - starting in Atlanta and expanding nationwide." About Per Scholas As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward - aiming to train and upskill 25,000 technologists annually by 2030, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we've offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $35 billion in increased personal earnings. On average, our learners earn 3x their pre-training wage in their first role after Per Scholas. With 25 campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers - from Fortune 500 companies to startups - to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide. Per Scholas Media Contact Mackenzie Loewen [email protected] (480) 528-1536 SOURCE Per Scholas

The Possible Zone names Bridgette Gray its new CEO. * May 5, 2026 Updated May 5, 2026 The Possible Zone (TPZ), a youth development nonprofit that delivers career-connected learning experiences that expand the traditional boundaries of education for high school students, has announced the appointment of Bridgette Gray as its Chief Executive Officer, effective May 4. A nationally recognized leader in workforce development, social impact, and organizational growth, Gray brings more than 25 years of experience designing equitable pathways to economic opportunity and scaling mission-driven organizations. An efficacious fundraiser across philanthropic, corporate, and government partnerships, she is widely known for aligning bold vision with disciplined execution to deliver measurable results. Most recently, Gray served as Chief Executive Officer of ideas42, where she led strategic visioning for the global nonprofit that dismantles systemic barriers to economic security through the application of behavioral sciences. As the Chief Customer Officer at Opportunity@Work, she helped influence Maryland's landmark policy to remove degree requirements from state jobs - advancing a national movement toward skills-first hiring. Earlier in her career, Gray served as Chief Impact Officer at Per Scholas, where she helped scale the organization's national footprint and expand access to high-quality technology training for thousands of learners annually. Gray has also worked at Year Up and the Points of Light Foundation. Founded by Becky Ruhmann Levin and Mark Levin in 2009, The Possible Zone (TPZ) has empowered more than 2,300 young people in Massachusetts through project-based education that integrates innovation, exploration of future pathways, entrepreneurial spirit, and real-world experience. Through an ecosystem approach, TPZ levels the playing field by bringing personalized and career-connected learning to those for whom opportunities have been disproportionately scarce. "When we founded The Possible Zone, we did so with the dream to create spaces where young people could discover their own potential and shape their own futures," said Mark Levin, Chair of TPZ's Board of Directors. "Bridgette Gray is a leader who not only shares our unwavering belief in the potential of our students, but she also can build on the organization's strong foundation, steer strategic direction, navigate challenges, and make high-stakes decisions that will drive TPZ through its next phase of growth and national expansion." The organization's 2030 Vision focuses on expanding its reach to 5,000+ students annually, across multiple communities and states, through an impactful, interconnected program delivery model. Concurrently, TPZ will complete validated large-scale controlled studies, serve as a key influencer of education thought leadership and policy, and realize a financially sustainable business model. Gray expressed her enthusiasm for the organization's future. "What drew me to The Possible Zone is the power of its model to transform how young people see themselves and their futures. TPZ has built something truly special - not just a program, but a platform for possibility. I'm honored to build on that foundation and work alongside this team to expand its impact nationally." In her first year, Gray will focus on strengthening organizational alignment, enhancing operational infrastructure, and advancing TPZ's growth strategy, including expanding national partnerships and diversifying funding to support long-term sustainability. Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for TPZ as it seeks to extend its innovative model beyond greater Boston while maintaining the depth, quality, and student-centered culture that define its work. "Over the past 15 years, The Possible Zone has evolved from a small but mighty entrepreneurship program, to an innovative and influential nonprofit that models how community, education, and industry can collaborate to deliver learning opportunities that lead high school students to fulfilling future pathways," said Susan Penta, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at MIDIOR, member of the TPZ Board of Directors, and a member of the CEO Search Committee. "I am excited to work with Bridgette as she leads TPZ through this next chapter of expansion and greater impact." The Possible Zone (TPZ) advances learning through an expansive ecosystem where young people develop the skills, mindsets, and networks needed to propel their futures. High school, industry, and higher education partners help deliver career-connected experiences that expand the traditional boundaries of education. As TPZ alums achieve economic mobility, they fuel their local region's economy and help advance the lives of others in their communities.