Jay Barrett Joins The RANGE as Workforce Lead

After Jay L. Barrett retired after serving as the principal of the award-winning AmTech Career Academy—a nationally recognized concept in which he was instrumental in the development—we had a hunch this long-time educator wasn’t quite ready to put his feet up. In fact, we thought he might end up working alongside The RANGE.

We were right.

The RANGE is excited to announce that Jay has joined our team to lead Horizons, our workforce development initiative and one of The RANGE’s key priority areas.

Jay spent 34 years as a principal in local schools, so putting his stamp on our ambitious workforce programs is an ideal next step.

Throughout his career, Jay Barrett has worked closely with students, educators, and employers to better align education with real-world workforce needs.

“Jay is the right person to lead this priority area for The RANGE,” said Matt Garner, Ph.D., Interim Executive Director and board member of The RANGE. “He understands how to build large-scale programs, has strong relationships with educators and employers across the Panhandle, and brings a clear understanding of how workforce development impacts long-term economic growth.”

Jay points to his work at AmTech, as well as the years he has spent on the Amarillo College Board of Regents—where he is currently Chairman—as giving him a clear perspective on the impact of workforce efforts.

“Many people believe you have to leave the region to find a good career, and that simply is not true,” he explains. “We have to build programs that meet today’s workforce needs while also preparing for what lies ahead. At the same time, we must do a better job of helping students and adults understand the career opportunities available right here in the Panhandle.”

Garner adds that this alignment with Jay Barrett’s experience and vision shows how The RANGE is going all-in on workforce efforts. “Bringing together industry leaders along with public and private partners is essential if we want to ensure our workforce has the tools needed for long-term success and resilience,” Garner says.

Our Horizons program is focused on preparing the Texas Panhandle’s workforce for the future.

As a background, workforce development and readiness play a critical role in regional economies. National workforce studies consistently show that communities with strong workforce pipelines experience higher job retention and greater economic resilience. A recent strategic plan completed for the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation noted that site location professionals rank the availability of skilled labor as the top factor in business and industrial growth. The plan also highlighted AmTech as one of Amarillo’s key workforce strengths.

Barrett says workforce training is directly connected to regional growth. “I want to help align workforce needs with a talent pipeline that includes both technical and professional skills,” he says. “There is a critical balance between attracting new business and ensuring we have the workforce needed to sustain that growth. That balance is why the Workforce Development priority area at The RANGE is so important.”

In addition to his experience as an educator at AmTech and more than 10 years of service on the AC Board of Regents, Barrett is also a board member of Harrington Regional Medical Center. He has previously served in leadership roles with the Community College Association of Texas and the Panhandle Workforce Development Board.

His commitment to education and public service has earned him numerous honors, including being named the Amarillo Globe-News 2023 Citizen on the Move and, in 2022, receiving the prestigious Innovative Leader award from the national Tech & Learning Magazine.

“At the heart of this work are people,” Barrett added. “I am excited to continue working with young professionals and helping create opportunities that allow them to build strong careers and strong lives right here in our community.”