Presented at the 2014 NCDA Conference, this presentation shows a model career professionals, business people and educators can follow to deliver needed career services in schools.
If you had a magic wand and could wave it, what problems would you solve for your school for career development.
What resources aren’t there to make it happen for you? Typical it boils down to…
If you had a magic wand and could wave it, what problems would you solve for your school for career development.
What resources aren’t there to make it happen for you? Typical it boils down to…
Counselor to student ratios are often 1:500 or more and…
Time and money
Form a partnership between schools (K-12 or colleges) and business to meet needs
Piece 1- create the avenue for the partnership
Is there already a program or similar program to utilize? Who do you already have connections with to use?
Piece 1 Example- Partners in Education- PIE
Piece 2- Think Win Win
Piece 2 Example- Need of Falkville- Quote from Mr James
Need from the educational side is so many demands are placed on guidance counselors, there is not the time to do it, but it is needed.
Also, school is in a rural, disadvantaged area, and there is not a lot of awareness about “options” Need exposure and expertise to what jobs are in-demand and what it takes to obtain those positions
Piece 2 Example- Passion of Valley Rubber- Video that demonstrates their passion at Parent Night
Piece 3: Think with the end in mind- establish your goals first
Piece 3 Example: Goals
How goals drilled down to tactical efforts-
Awareness of and interest in- Career assessment and coaching- results mapped to looking at O*net bright outlook data to see if field is growing. Connection to in-demand careers through Valley Rubbers needs (welders for example) and scholarship essay being linked to it
Educational attainment beyond high school- Barriers: Admittance- ACT scores- Prep Classes, Tips and Tricks Handout, Financial Issues- FAFSA Handout, one-on-one FAFSA counseling- filling it out while there with someone to help and answer all questions (barrier of no access to computers outside of the school)
-not knowing when to do what- adding month by month newsletter of what to do when
Piece 3- then answer: Who what where when why and how
Who- Seniors first, then adding juniors
What- career coaching and assessment with follow-up activities
Review students talents and interests/passions revealed through their Strong assessment.
Discuss career connections as well as college majors connected to talent and interest areas
Discuss plans after high school
Discuss pathways and tools to reaching goals set for after high school including covering ACT/SAT registration, test dates and prep, financial aid information, college application processes, and exploration for careers and colleges
Identify barriers to career and educational attainment and provide tools and resources for overcoming those barriers
Strong Interest Inventory® College Profile
Career Planning Worksheet and Checklist (See Appendix A)
A checklist for completing the FAFSA (See Appendix B)
Based on career path and needs, some students were given:
Printouts of college applications
Waivers for ACT registration
Printouts of career information
Printouts of college major or certificate options
Where- at the school
When- timing to match with when students need to hear and concentrate on certain things; example: right before the ACT required to take junior year
Why- the goals are why
How- assessment, coaching, resources given to students- linked to tactical implementation talked about on previous slide
How goals drilled down to tactical efforts-
Awareness of and interest in- Career assessment and coaching- results mapped to looking at O*net bright outlook data to see if field is growing. Connection to in-demand careers through Valley Rubbers needs (welders for example) and scholarship essay being linked to it
Educational attainment beyond high school- Barriers: Admittance- ACT scores- Prep Classes, Tips and Tricks Handout, Financial Issues- FAFSA Handout, one-on-one FAFSA counseling- filling it out while there with someone to help and answer all questions (barrier of no access to computers outside of the school)
-not knowing when to do what- adding month by month newsletter of what to do when
-text message reminders
Piece 4: Track and Measure Performance
Piece 4 Example: Back to the goals you set- built in tracking
Example:
FALKVILLE COACHING NOTES
STUDENT NAME:
DATE AND TIME SCHEDULED FOR COACHING:
NOTES FROM CAREER ASSESSMENT/GENERAL SURVEY:
NOTES FROM SESSION:
Career path/major is the student planning to pursue:
School:
YES NO Did the student register for the ACT during the session?
If no, have they already taken it? YES NO
YES NO Did the student sign up for the ACT prep class?
Notes on question(s) students asked:
Additional Comments:
Increase awareness of and interest in in-demand careers
2012-2013 School Year: 46% interest in an in-demand career
2013-2014 School Year:
Creating a Cultural Shift within the school
Increase educational attainment beyond high school
2012-2013 School Year:
-15 % increase in entrance exam testing
-26% increase in completion of FAFSA
-20 % received scholarship money from partner
2013-2014 School Year:
All ultimately to further the goal of broading the pathway to success- really a vision to acheive