KTech working to fill critical gaps in the 865 Academies
KTech, in collaboration with the Knox Education Foundation and the 865 Academies, is working to expand Guaranteed Student Experiences (GSEs) for students in Knox County Schools.
What if the key to solving Knoxville’s tech-talent shortage lies in giving high schoolers a front-row seat to the careers of tomorrow—before they even graduate?
The 865 Academies initiative in Knox County Schools is tapping on that window and opening doors for this collaboration to happen.
The program was created to offer career-themed pathways in local high schools, expand access to hands-on learning, and bridge connections between business and education. While many of the 865 Academies opportunities have been filled, there is still a lingering shortage of participation from the tech industry. This mirrors a broader issue: there simply aren’t enough qualified workers to meet the growing demand for technical roles in the region.
In October 2024, the Knoxville Technology Council (KTech) and the Knox Education Foundation met to address the problem, at least at the 865 Academies level. Together, they identified 152 “Guaranteed Student Experiences” (GSEs)—flexible, short-term opportunities that allow students to explore careers in their chosen fields, particularly in technology. Unlike internships, GSEs do not require long-term commitments or extensive onboarding, making them more accessible for both students and employers.
“Internship is a word that sometimes triggers a false negative response in leaders,” said Matthew Kittrell, a KTech Board Member. “They believe that that’s a longer-term commitment. But a GSE is not like that.”
GSEs include industry experiences, field trips, job shadows, and capstone projects.
The solution they came up with is a dedicated event on May 7 at Bearden High School. The day will feature presentations from industry partners and students, followed by collaborative workshops aimed at securing commitments from companies to support these essential experiences. Kittrell is hopeful that the event will result in filling most, if not all, of the 152 identified opportunities.
“I’m a strong believer that it’s going to require a community effort focused on the same goals and outcomes to remediate this workforce gap,” said Kittrell. “At KTech, we believe it is one of the fundamental issues that we can help contribute to solving. I’m really encouraged by the 865 Academies model and that the students are getting this kind of exposure.”
Kittrell, who also serves as Director of Consulting Delivery at CGI’s Knoxville office, shared that his company’s involvement in the program was both effective and simple to execute. CGI hosted a virtual job shadow to provide students with insight into tech careers, without compromising the security of sensitive client data.
The goal of 152 GSE for the 2025-26 school year is only a drop in the bucket of what the greater-Knoxville community will need to become a competitive player in the tech space. However, the impact of the GSE have the potential to to create a pipeline of prepared, confident, and tech-savvy students who feel equipped to contribute to the workforce.
Register to attend the May 7 event here.
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