Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration Jane Oates toured the New Orleans Job Corps Center on Monday visiting with student government leaders, trainees from every trade offering and school administrators including Center Director Amelia Oliver. President Obama nominated Secretary Oates for the position three years ago.

“We arrived just in time,” said Secretary Oates as the aroma of freshly baked hot biscuits wafted from the kitchen into the Culinary Arts classroom. She asked the students to explain how the robot-coupe works, a food processor that blends the dough. “It is so exciting to see so many young people passionate about careers in the food industry she said in a great food town like New Orleans.”

Secretary Oates was accompanied by a representaive from the Dallas Region of the DOL, Bryan Moore, director of the Office of Workforce Development for the Louisiana Workforce Commission and Nadiyah Coleman, City of New Orleans Director of Office Workforce Development.

“She discussed the importance of writing and reading in order to be successful in life,” said Advanced Communications instructor Sherry Singleton of Sec. Oates visit to her class.”She also encouraged trainees to stay focused and take advantage of all that Job Corps has to offer.”