By CHRISTY WRIGHTSMAN, guest columnist
As the director of career connected learning for Brown County Schools, I am thrilled to be able to share the transformational goals and activities being implemented through the career connected learning initiative in the school district.
Over the past four years, we have set a strategic direction in this corporation to transform the preschool to adult system for our community. In that three-pillar system of transformation we are prepared to “ready” our students for college or career in pillar one; “ready” our educators for innovative teaching and learning under pillar two; and “ready” our community for community and regional prosperity for pillar three.
If we have talked recently, chances are you have heard me go on and on about my new role and the CCL initiative. I am certain it was quite evident that I am super passionate about preparing our students for whatever their next steps will be post-high school.
Previously, I had the great fortune of being the director of the Career Resource Center for three years. This opportunity gave me a profound look at post-secondary options like college, military, workforce development and credentialing. Now, I get to take this perspective and knowledge back to the preschool to 12th grade environment.
I have an amazing team of educators committed to this initiative, too. I will share more about this team in a bit.
This is a look into all that is transforming in Brown County Schools via our three year action plans and what you can look forward to seeing.
But first, it is important to recognize what the career connected learning initiative is and why we have embarked upon this initiative.
Career connected learning is an approach to learning that provides every student with an opportunity to know themselves better as they explore career opportunities and plan for what kind of education and training they need to pursue after high school. We have created this initiative to help each student create a clear, specific and practical action plan for what comes next, whether it is going right into the world of work, getting a certification, earning a two year degree or pursuing a four year or advanced degree.
The Career connected learning initiative delivers the following opportunities for all students:
Career and life readiness: Based on our graduate profile, every student will develop a broad array of career and life readiness skills that builds the academic, employability, career and social-emotional knowledge an individual needs to experience success in career and life.
Career development: Every student will have the opportunity to learn about themselves, multiple career paths and college options as they develop a personalized education and career plan.
Career connected learning coursework: Middle and high school students receive resource time that provides career and life readiness lessons. We also offer an array of diverse programs in elementary school, middle school, high school, Columbus Vocational School C4 and the Career Resource Center to learn more deeply about a career field of interest.
Early post-secondary education credits: Through dual credit or Advance Placement students can receive between three and nine post-secondary education credits while still enrolled in high school.
Work-based and community-based Learning: The school district facilitates workplace and community-based learning experiences with partners from business and industry, non-profit organizations and local government.
As I mentioned previously, this transformation takes a remarkable team of individuals within Brown County Schools and this community. Our Brown County Schools team consists of myself as the director, Jay Myers as the master teacher for career connected learning at Brown County High School and three high school academy leaders who represent general and career technical education.
Rebekah Bryan is the academy leader for the arts, business and communication academy. Chris Townsend is the academy leader for the advanced technologies and science academy. Jim McFall is the academy leader for the health, human and public service academy. Within each of these three academies, students may engage in their chosen program of study.
Trying out one of these programs of study within a chosen academy begins in eighth grade. Each eighth grade student will identify one or more areas of career interest for exploration and will develop the first draft of their personalized education and career plan. This occurs during a 12-week trimester course titled “Prep for College and Careers.”
The student’s career interest will be revisited each school year and can evolve or shift. In fact, we see it as a positive development if a student discovers he or she does not want to pursue a career pathway after learning more.
In high school, students are refining their employability skills and career research while making course selections based upon their chosen program of study that lead to their postsecondary plan. We believe that almost all of our graduates need to pursue education and training beyond high school, but their specific career interests and goals should be what informs and drives their choices for post-secondary education and training.
We expect every student to explore all their options and select the best direction for them. We encourage every student to aim high and pursue the goal that feels right for him or her, not something that someone else wants for them.
In addition to the plans above, each teacher from preschool to 12th grade will play a significant role in connecting and integrating career lessons and employability skill development within their coursework and through their student resource time.
It is important for our students and families to know that this is a journey. The development and implementation of career connected learning will take time. A corporation three year action plan has been developed for sixth through 12th grades that outlines 20 goals over the next three years. In 2022-2023, the establishment of the preschool through fifth grade action plan will be outlined.
In the coming months, I plan to share more details, student accomplishments and educator insight related to our progress with the career connected learning initiative.
In the meantime, I encourage our community to begin considering how you can support this initiative. Maybe you would like to offer an internship within your industry? Perhaps you would like to financially support the recognition of our seniors who earn the Governor’s Work Ethic Certificate? Maybe you would be willing to share your career journey with the Prep for College and Careers class? Finally, maybe you will join our Education Workforce Advisory Team that provides specific workforce and industry input to our educators and administrators?
If you would like to know more, want to offer up your support or wish to provide some expertise to our students or staff then keep reading the upcoming CCL articles or send me an email at [email protected].
Christy Wrightsman is the director of the Career Resource Center of Brown County. She can be reached at 812-988-5880 or cwrightsman@brown countyschools.com.
