Career Development: Learn, Earn, Live

The school counselor’s role in career development is inextricably connected to the academic and social/emotional development of students. How do we help students become career ready? Become people who capitalize on personal strengths, talents, education and experiences to bring value to the workplace and the community through their performance, skill, and responsible behavior? To help students become career ready, counselors must implement a comprehensive K-12 program that increases students’ awareness, exploration and preparation for careers of interest.

• In elementary school, counselors introduce students to a broad range of career options that expand their awareness and knowledge of the world of work.
• In middle school, counselors implement and integrate contextual learning opportunities that allow students to explore education and training necessary for multiple career pathways.
• At the high school level, counselors prepare and equip students with employability skills through project, service and work-based learning activities.

School counselors work to implement career development programs that have a strong academic foundation, with employability skills that lead directly to postsecondary education, training and gainful employment. Delivered in a sequential and thematic approach, a comprehensive K-12 career readiness program challenges and empowers students by encouraging them to LEARN, EARN, and LIVE. This process involves helping them to engage and navigate higher education (to LEARN), providing them the skills necessary to thrive in the workforce (to EARN), and developing a potential for them to be positive happy and contributing members of their communities (to LIVE).
 
Counselors help students:
 
LEARN

• Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and skills that contribute to effective learning across a life span.
• Create and implement an academic plan that leads to realistic and relevant postsecondary options.
• Understand the relationship to the world of work, academics, life at home and the community.

EARN

• Acquire the skills to investigate the world of work gain knowledge of self, and make informed career decisions.
• Develop strategies for developing future career goals that ensure economic success and personal satisfaction.

LIVE

• Acquire the knowledge and interpersonal skills to understand and respect others.
• Set goals based on priorities of work and leisure activities, and take action necessary to achieve them.
• Make good decision about safe and healthy choices for life.

Career development is a hot topic in the state of Michigan. The goal of K-12 comprehensive school counseling is to help ensure that all students in the state graduate with a broad awareness of careers of interest and demonstrable employability skills that lead directly to meaningful opportunities for postsecondary education, training and employment. We can no longer treat college as the only option for K-12 success. We must be more inclusive of our definition of career preparation and provide opportunities for students interested in career and technical education (CTE). Often the skills learned at four-year institutions do not adequately prepare students for careers in CTE fields. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight careers that do not require a four-year degree. Careers such as dental hygienist, registered nurse, web developer and electricians are high-skill/high-wage professional careers that will not burden students with debt. School counselors can help implement career pathways and other integrated models that encourage rigorous academics, and career preparation that increases students’ exposure and understanding of the diverse employment opportunities available to them.
 
I have compiled a list of key components for implementing a K-12 program that is comprehensive in scope, preventive in design and developmental in nature. (See full list of components here.)

1. Provide equitable allocation of resources that support career education.
2. Provide support for career education, software tools and professional development for stakeholders throughout the district.
3. Collaborate with business and industry, community organizations, and other professional education groups to maintain and advance a strong voice for the full implementation of comprehensive school counseling programs.
4. Work with building level principals to align the school counselor’s responsibilities and program SMART goals with district’s school improvement goals. Complete a principal/counselor annual agreement, which outlines the program’s organization and focus.
5. Ensure equity and incorporate multiple career and college readiness measures including enrollment into secondary programs, enlistment in the military, work and service learning projects, completion of industry certifications and CTE pathway completion.

Contact Tony Warren, MSCA president, at warrent@calhounisd.org