How to Expand Your High School Career Development Program

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How to Expand Your High School Career Development
Program

• Nathan Hale High School
• School District of
• West Allis-West Milwaukee

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Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon
way. Booker T. Washington
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Nathan Hale High SchoolsCareer Academy

• Takes a common topic, career development, and
  approaches it in an uncommon way.

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Why Should School Districts Consider
Comprehensive Career Development Programs?

• To expose all students, 9-12, to a broad range of
  careers and career related activities in a
  consistent manner
• To empower students to make informed choices
  about careers prior to selecting post secondary
  options
• To best prepare students for success beyond the
  high school doors

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The Nathan Hale High Schools Career Academy is a
Comprehensive Career Development Program that
Works!
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Components of the Nathan Hale High School Career
Academy

• All students participate
• It is supported through the school curriculum
• It is supported by a Career Committee of staff
  members from across content areas
• It partners with local businesses and
  organizations
• It is recognized as a vital component of our
  school community and culture

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All Student Activities

• Interest Inventories
• Career Research
• Job Shadowing
• Career Assemblies
• Mock Interviews

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Curriculum-Based

• 9th grade
• Success Highways Curriculum (8 lessons)
• Social Studies and Math classes (4 lessons each)
• 10th Grade
• Wisconsin Career Assessment
• Career research
• Compare/contrast career essay assignment

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Job Shadowing

• Rationale
• Snapshot of a day on the job
• Credible source regarding education and training
  requirements, job responsibilities
• Networking opportunity for summer job,
  internship, or permanent position
• Procedures
• Job Shadow Workshops
• Forms

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Career Assembly

• Rationale
• Format
• Monthly event
• 4-5 career speakers per event
• Individuals present for 10-12 minutes
• Procedures
• Sign-up
• Passes
• Student evaluation form

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Mock Interviews

• Rationale
• Format
• Cafeteria
• 15-20 minute interview
• Interview with professional from related career
• Procedures
• Sign up
• Pass to attend with report time
• Evaluation

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Tie it Together!

• Provide a framework

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The Parent Meeting

• Individual Parent/Student/Counselor Meetings
• 10th and 11th grade
• Academic Planning
• Career Planning
• Transition to life after high school

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Career Major Program

• Required to complete 14 career-related
  requirements
• Student, parent, school counselor, and faculty
  representative sign contract
• Requirement check-off sheet
• Verify interest
• Saves student time and money

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Employability Skills and Portfolio Workshop

• Guest speakers present on the following topics
• Job search
• Application
• Resume writing
• Portfolio
• Helps organize and prepare for interview
• Evidence of skills and accomplishments

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School Activity

• Rationale
• Acceptable activities
• Student mentor
• Student tutor
• Club or organization
• Student aide

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Career-Related Community Activity

• Rationale
• Networking
• Shadowing
• Verification
• Intern Program

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Classroom Integration

• Link to curriculum
• Require activities in individual class
• Resume and portfolio development
• Preparation for Mock Interview Day

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Staff Collaboration

• Career Committee Focus Group
• Classroom use
• Proximity to College Career Center
• Central location
• Teachers encourage student participation
• Events
• Career major program

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Career Major Meetings

• September
• Job Shadow Workshop
• Activity Schedule
• Required courses and activities
• Mid Year
• Individual student update of unfinished
  activities
• Mock interview preview

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Celebration of Success!

• Diploma endorsement
• Transcript endorsement
• Silver cords
• Academic Awards Banquet (Spring)

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Implementation

• How to start your own program

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Phase 1

• Start-up
• Administrative support
• Energetic coordinator/leader
• Budget (paper and copying)
• Career Committee
• Staff buy-in
• One member of from each department
• Career Assessments
• Job Shadowing
• Career Assemblies

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Phase 2

• Career/Academic Counseling Sessions
• Parent meeting with school counselor
• Individual, one-on-one meetings most effective
• Large group meeting also possible
• Mock Interviews
• One day event
• Helps build network of community contacts
• Employability Skills Portfolio Workshop
• 2-3 hour event
• Follow up required

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Phase 3

• Establish Career Major Program
• Career Committee
• Career Major Meetings
• Appreciation Breakfast
• Silver Cords
• Diploma Endorsements
• Transcript Endorsements

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Making it Work!

• Keys to Success

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Administrative Staff Support

• Principal
• School Board
• Staff
• Career Committee
• English Department

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Marketing

• Name the program
• Create a symbol
• Publicity
• School calendar
• Counselor newsletter
• Announcements
• Signs/posters

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Community Partnerships

• West Allis-West Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce
• GMR Marketing
• Walgreens
• MATC/WCTC
• 4-year colleges universities

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Appreciation Breakfast

• Staff contributions
• Partner contributions
• Framed certificates presented
• Hot breakfast served
• Student speakers provide testimonials
• Student portfolios displayed

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Budget/Resources

• College Career Center Aide
• GMR annual contribution
• Starter Kit book sales
• Community contacts database
• Career Committee

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Question Answer Session

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Contact Information

• Kathy MacDonald, Principal, 414-604-3211
• MacdK_at_wawm.k12.wi.us
• Nate Rice, School Counselor, 414-604-3225
• RiceN_at_wawm.k12.wi.us