PRESENTED BY
KAREN L. ALEXANDER
CYNTHIA MILLER
POISED TO LEAD: PREPARING PROFESSIONAL
SCHOOL COUNSELORS THROUGH SUSTAINED
DEVELOPMENT TO LEAD LOCAL COLLEGE &
CAREER READINESS INITIATIVES
ARE YOU POISED TO LEAD…
Administrators
Business and
Industry
Postsecondary
Partners
Teachers
Engaged
and
Motivated
Students
Parents
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THE PROBLEM
• College and Career Readiness requires schools—
through counselors, teachers, curriculum—to focus
on career education.
• Counselor preparation programs have only a small
focus on career education—mostly theory and not
application.
• In Texas, there is an increased emphasis on
career preparation.
• Counselors have high demands and
receive little support.
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THE ANSWER…
• A framework for providing professional school
counselors sustained development focused on
leading local college and career readiness initiatives.
• An out-growth of the Career and Technical Education
Leadership Academy.
• Based upon the AchieveTexas Texas College and
Career Initiative.
• Promotes the leadership potential of the
school counselor.
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TOPICS ADDRESSED
• College & Career Ready vs. Eligibility
• Career and Technical Education’s Role in Preparing College
and Career Ready Students
• Poised to Lead: How Counselors Can Drive College & Career
Readiness
• Creating Career Pathways that are Freeways with On and Off
Ramps
• Career Mapping: Making Connections to Increase Student
Ownership in College & Career Planning
• Designing Career Preparation Strategies that
Really Prepare Students for a Career
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ACHIEVETEXAS
COLLEGE AND CAREER INITIATIVE
•Created around career clusters
•Improve learner achievement–both
academic and technical
•Promote successful transitions from
secondary to postsecondary education
•Support workforce and economic
development
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ACHIEVETEXAS IS BASED UPON…
Concept - Students can succeed in school,
career, and life if they plan their own individual
college and career success.
Philosophy - No career option is intrinsically
better than the other. Whether the choice is
right or not depends on the personal goals of
the student.
Goal - To prepare students for college and
career, and allow them to choose the options
that are best for them.
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT SPANS ALL GRADES
Steps to Success
Employment: Career Advancement
Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning
Postsecondary: Career Preparation
Achieving credentials: college, certification, apprenticeship, military
9-12: Programs of Study Related to a Career Goal
Academics and technical courses, intensive guidance, individual graduation plans
Grade 8: Career Exploration and Transition
Develop graduation plans based upon personal interest/cluster areas
6-8: Initial Career Exploration
Discovering interest areas
K-5: Understanding the Importance and Value of Work and Jobs
Introduction to the world of careers
PROGRAMS OF STUDY IN TEXAS
• 122 models are available at www.achievetexas.org
• Models illustrate various career goals in all 16 career clusters
• Components:
•
•
•
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Middle school connection
Requirements for the Recommended High School Graduation Plan
Secondary certifications
Extended learning opportunities, including CTSOs
College credit opportunities
Postsecondary linkages
Career opportunities from entry level to advanced
Professional associations
• Recent revisions include more postsecondary detail
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IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCES
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PROFESSIONAL GROWTH PROJECTS
• Two options available:
• Focused reading and reflection of the book,
College and Career Ready by David T. Conley.
• Individually planned to meet local needs.
• Project outcomes presented at the June
meeting.
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SUPPORT RESOURCES
• Recruitment website,
http://cte.tamucc.edu/counselor-academy/
• Academy wiki, https://achievetexas-counseloracademy-2013.wikispaces.com/
• Career Development and Planning Resources
LiveBinder,
https://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=93
0447
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QUESTIONS?
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Visit our website at
www.achievetexas.org
• Email Dr. Karen Alexander at
karen.alexander@ttu.edu
• Email Cindy Miller at
cynthia.l.miller@ttu.edu
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