WELCOME
Counseling for Careers
Lynn Anderson
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Director, Counseling for Careers
Lynn.anderson@sreb.org
Counseling for Careers
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Counseling for Careers is an
organized, structured effort that
connects students to future
education and career goals; while
providing a set of learning
experiences that enables students
to create a meaningful vision for a
successful future and the
program of study for achieving
that vision.
Here’s what we’re dealing with….
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2013-2014 Freshmen 65% will be
employed in careers that do not exist
today.
By 2020, 97% of all careers in this
country will require some type of
postsecondary education/training
67% of students who drop out of high
school, decided before Christmas their
freshman year to drop out
U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
National Drop Out Prevention Report 2010
By the time today’s students graduate
from high school they will have:
Marc Prensky, 2006
 Spent over 10,000 hours playing video games
 Sent and received over 200,000 e-mails and
instant messages
 Spent over 10,000 hours talking on cell phones
 Spent over 20,000 hours watching TV
 Seen over 500,000 commercials
 Spent, at most, 5,000 hours reading books.
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Regional
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# 542 What Counselors Need to Know
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Time for a REALITY CHECK
80% of tenth graders aspire to go to college.
For every 100 ninth graders…
68 graduate from HS on time
40 immediately enroll in college
27 of the 40 are still enrolled sophmore year
18 graduate from college in six years
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What are we lacking????????????????
Connecting Students to a Goal Beyond
High School Graduation Through
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1. Assignments and lessons where students discover
the connection between the classroom and a
successful future.
2. A structured, standards based,
academic/personal/career advisement
3. A transition initiative
4. Career academies/career pathways/programs of
study
5. Individual education and career plans for every
student
6. Education and career awareness and exploration
7. Increased parent and community partnerships
In no other industrialized country has
the transition from school to career
been left so much to chance as in the
United States of America.
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Regional
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1. Assignments and lessons where
students discover the connection
between the classroom and a
successful future.
Those age old questions……….
“Why do I have to take this?”
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Regional
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“When am I ever going to use this?”
Advisement
1. A systemic approach to providing ALL
students with the knowledge and skills to
make decisions about his/her education and
career
2. A process to aid students in developing selfawareness, education and career awareness,
and decision-making skills
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3. A process to help each student improve
his/her chances for success
Advisement is time for……
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Building relationships
Self-discovery
Trouble shooting
Team building
Education and career investigation and
exploration
Connection with parents/guardians
Enhanced academics
Post-secondary exploration/planning
Advisement is NOT!!!!
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Regional
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Homeroom
Study hall
Wasted time
Unorganized
Unplanned
Time for announcements
Time for pep rallies
Advisement time is SACRED!!
Scheduling
Minimum of one day weekly
For 30 to 45 minutes
Not on Monday or Friday
Not first thing or last thing in the day
Preferably between second & third
(before lunch)
Create an alternate bell schedule
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(same # of minutes off every period)
Advisement Fundamentals
 Same number of advisors for each grade
level (# faculty divided by 4)
 Group size preferably, 12-20 students
(total # of students per grade level divided by # of advisors)
 Students are randomly grouped by grade
level (ALL students)
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Regional
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 Accountability for advisors and students is
mandatory. Advisement must be included
in an educators’ service review.
Advisement IS!!!!!!!!!!
NOT doing the school counselor’s job
Is all about building relationships!!!!
IT IS OUR JOB!!!!!!!!!!!
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Regional
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A Transition Initiative
Elementary to Middle
Middle to High School
High School to Post Secondary
Post Secondary to Career
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Transition Ideas
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Regional
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A stand alone course
Integrated into required
coursework
Summer programs/Boot camp
Integrated into Advisement
All of the above
Others……….
Transition Efforts MUST
 Helps students create a vision of a
successful future.
 Provide students with the knowledge,
skills, practice, and planning needed to
successfully navigate the next steps in
their education and future.
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 Equips students with the necessary tools
for a smooth transition into the future.
Resources
“Skills for a Lifetime”
 “Career Choices”
 “Teenagers Preparing for the Real World”
 “Financial Literacy”
 “Career Readiness for Teens”
 “LINKS” Junior Achievement www.ja.org
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Southern
Regional
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COLLEGE
CAREER
MAJOR
These Decisions Must Be Made,
BUT in What Order?
Career Clusters/Career Pathways
High schools organize around career
clusters/career pathways to prepare
students to meet the demands of
postsecondary education and the
expectations of employers.
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Regional
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Teacher/advisers and school
counselors use career
clusters/career pathways to help
students explore options for the
future.
Pathways
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 Prepare students for the full range of
postsecondary opportunity – pathways
eliminate sorting and tracking high
school students in ways that limit
options after high school.
 Produce high levels of academic and
technical achievement, high school
completion, postsecondary transition
and attainment of a formal
postsecondary credential.
Pathways of Study
Ensures that:
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Integration occurs between academic
and occupational learning;
Transitions are established between
secondary schools and postsecondary
institutions;
Coursework is focused and sequenced;
Students are prepared for employment
in a broad career cluster; and
Students receive a skill credential.
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Why A Pathway Program of Study?
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Regional
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 Provides students a clear format to show:
qualifications for college and career
relevance of academic coursework
Connections between student interest
and high skill/high wage career options
options for range of postsecondary
education opportunities
•Licenses, certificates, apprenticeships
and degrees
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Reality Check
 OVER 5 Million Jobs Waiting to be Filled!
 3.5 million Computer/Information Technology
(average salary over $100K annually)
 800,000 Skilled Trades ($45-$95k)
 200,000 Manufacturing/Facilities ($35-$85k)
 300,000 Transportation ($47-$97k)
U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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All require post secondary education and training
Are we introducing our students to these careers?
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 24
Skilled Trades
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Regional
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Operating engineer (Heavy equipment operator)
Pipefitter
Plumber
Electrician
Automotive technician
Automotive environmental safety technician
Ironworker
Insulator
Carpenter
Pipeline construction specialist
Pipeline safety technician
Utility maintenance operator
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 25
Manufacturing and Facilities
Careers
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
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Global Logistics Manager
Graphic Design Specialist
Quality Control Technician
Facilities Maintenance Technician
Management Specialist
Health and Safety Manager
Energy Conservation Specialist
Fiber Optic Technician
Production Operations Manager
Compliance Specialist
Software Developer
Web Design Specialist
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 26
Transportation Careers
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Regional
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Board
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Environmental Specialist
Logistics Technician
Hazardous Materials Specialist
Diesel Technician
Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Import/Export Coordinator
Owner Operator Teams
CDL Drivers
Pilots
Railroad Engineers
Air Courier
Railroad Safety Inspectors
Transportation Analyst
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 27
U. S. Department of Labor
Careers in Highest Demand
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Regional
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Board
Career
Education
Median
Salary
Manufacturing technician
Certificate
$64,590
Automotive technician
Certificate
$58,560
EMT
Certificate
$41,180
Medical equipment repair
Certificate
$61,480
Civil drafters
Certificate
$55,940
Tower crane operator
Apprenticeship
$86,170
Plumber/pipefitter
Apprenticeship
$61,830
Electrician
Apprenticeship
$52,910
Diesel engine specialist
Apprenticeship
$64,360
Welders/cutters/blazers
Apprenticeship
$47,920
Aircraft mechanic
Apprenticeship
$52,010
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 28
ACT Study: The math and reading
skills required for electricians,
construction workers, upholsterers,
and plumbers are the same as what’s
necessary to succeed in first-year
college courses!
ACT, Readiness for College and Readiness for Work:
Same or Different, Iowa City, IA. 2006
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and those skills are also increasingly
important OUTSIDE of jobs!
# 542 What Counselors Need to Know 29
Individual Graduation Plans (PEP)
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 1. Include rigorous academic core subjects and focused course work in
mathematics and science or in humanities, fine arts, and foreign
language or sequenced career pathway coursework;
 2. Incorporate provisions of a student’s Individualized Education
Program (IEP), where applicable;
 3. Align educational and broad career goals and the student’s course of
study;
 4. Be based on the student’s selected academic and career focus area as
approved by the student’s parent or guardian;
 5. Include experience-based career oriented learning experiences, which
may include but not be limited to, internships, apprenticeships,
mentoring, cooperative education, and service learning;
 6. Include opportunities for postsecondary studies through articulation,
dual enrollment, and joint enrollment;
 7. Allow flexibility to change the course of study but remain sufficiently
structured to meet graduation requirements and qualify the student for
admission to postsecondary education;
 8. Be approved by the student and the student’s parent or guardian with
guidance from the student’s school counselor or teacher advisor;
 9. Be reviewed and revised, if appropriate, upon approval by the student
and the student’s parent or guardian with guidance from the student’s
school counselor or teacher advisor.
What Are The Right Courses
for Students?
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Regional
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Board
 Pathway Program of Study should be
based on:
Interest
Student career & educational goals
Individual needs and status of student
Postsecondary opportunity options
Genuine career opportunities
Parent/guardian & advisor input
Connection among achievement,
enrollment, and advisement
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Course Selection
 Must be based on the student’s interest and ability!
 What are we doing to gather this information from our
students, and when?
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Regional
Education
Board
 Focus of high school courses must:
 Expect more than minimum requirements
 Plan for dual preparation of post-secondary and
careers
 Be planned with an advisor and parents
 Connect with student interest
 Consider a different schedule load for at-risk 9th
graders
• What if ____________was postponed until 10th-12th
grade?
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Course Selection
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Regional
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Faculty must be involved
(Counselors can’t do it all)
Faculty must have input into course
selection
Must be based on student’s
interests and goals
Must be reviewed with parents at
least yearly
Education and Career Exploration
 Speakers Resource Bank
(Start with finding out what your parents do.)
 Mentoring and/or Tutoring
 Student Activities/Occupational Outlook
Handbook (K-12)
 Career Prep Clubs
 Education and Career Exploration Events
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(Job Shadowing, Internships, Work-based Learning,
Career Expos, etc.)
 Business and Industry Partnerships
Parental Involvement
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Why do you think parents and
the community fail to get
involved with schools?
 They don’t feel welcome.
 They don’t feel qualified.
 There’s a lack of communication.
 Schools aren’t flexible.
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Regional
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Board
 Meaningful methods of
participation aren’t recommended
by schools.
 “It’s not my job!”
Parents should be
invited to at least one
meeting a year to
review their child’s
program of study
and course selection
for next year.
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Regional
Education
Board
Let’s think about some easy
strategies for improving parental
support.
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Reward students for accurate parental contact
information
 Contact parents at least once per semester
 Contact parents with good news
 Varying days/times for parent conferences
( i.e. 7am-11am; noon-3pm; 4pm-8pm)
 Providing child care, food, other incentives (this can
easily be done via community service hours, and your
CATE programs)
 Celebrate, making coming to the school beneficial,
easy, and positive!
 Possibly varying the mechanism for parent
conferences, do they have to be at the school?
(Can we do this via technology, if all else fails?!)
How Do You Get Parents
to Attend Annual
Student-Adviser-Parent Meetings?
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Board
“What’s in it for me?”
Have an appointment
Make the appointment
meaningful
Make the time convenient
Student-led Conferences
Parent Involvement Plan
 What are we doing now? Is it working?
 In what ways would we like to use our
parents and/or community partners?
 What would we like to try? By when?
 What resources or actions are needed?
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Regional
Education
Board
Let’s look at where we are……
Gap analysis rubric
Review and check off what is already
happening at some level
Where do we need to tweet in an
effort to make this strategy GREAT!!
What would we like to add?
How to begin planning
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Regional
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Board
The path from the classroom to the
work place is neither well marked nor
easily navigated!
Education is the only industry in which
our CUSTOMERS
become our PRODUCTS!
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If tomorrow never comes will you be
satisfied with the contribution you
made today?!
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for your time and
hard work today!