IN Ross Township Fall 2019 | Page 25

EDUCATION SPECIAL SECTION: is that your savings continues to grow with tuition inflation. The IP gives you more freedom to invest your savings into a variety of 17 different investment options, but your money is more fluid, allowing you to lose or gain depending on market conditions. There are several other options available when starting to save for a minor, including educational savings account (ES), Uniform Transfer/Gift to Minors Act, custodial accounts, or simply putting money under your mattress. No matter what route you choose, it’s never too early to start saving. TRADE SCHOOLS • Plumber – You’ll need your high school diploma and an apprenticeship to become a plumber. Once you are licensed, you can start to work, but you’re sure to need some physical strength to take on this job. • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer – After obtaining an associate degree, sonographers go on to prep patients for procedures, review and process images for physicians, and administer ultrasounds. You’ll also be responsible for operating imaging equipment. • Elevator Installer – A career with high earning potential, elevator installers repair and maintain elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and lifts. A high school diploma and apprenticeship is required for this role, so if you’re good with power tools, this job might be a lift up for you. PRE-K – HIGH SCHOOL Over the past 30 years, the cost to attend a four-year college has increased by 213 percent, leaving many college graduates searching for ways to repay their student loans. Some high school seniors are looking to avoid the hefty price tag of a four-year degree and instead opting to attend a trade or technical school. Trade school enrollment continues to increase since the early 2000s, but a steep decline in vocational education in the 1980s and ‘90s led to a shortage of blue-collar workers across the nation. Trying to gain back skilled workers has led to an increase in wages, enticing students and parents alike to see past the old stigma of choosing a trade school over college. Here are a few of the best trades or vocations available. • Air Traffic Controller – With a few years of intense training and a certification by the FAA, air traffic controllers are highly sought after. Individuals must have the ability to concentrate, organize flight plans, inspect radio equipment, and are required to be constantly vigilant to successfully execute their job duties. • Radiation Therapist – An associate degree is required to land a job as a radiation therapist, along with a licensure to practice. If you’re interested in caring for other people, this job requires administering radiation for cancer treatments. • Dental Hygienist – Smile! Your career could be in making teeth brighter. Dental hygienists work to clean teeth, take x-rays, and educate patients on oral health. They are also ranked among the most satisfied workers. You’ll need an associate degree to pursue this career. • Electrician – Training to become an electrician takes about as long as it takes to get a bachelor’s degree and a license, but this job training pays for itself along the way. If reading blueprints and installing or repairing wires and other electrical components interests you, this career might be electrifying. The first public school opened in the United States in 1635, and the Boston Latin School remains the nation’s oldest public school. Early education didn’t focus on math or science, but on the virtues of family, religion and community. Nearly 400 years later, schools are harnessing the fundamental principles of community, and although it may look very different in this day and age, a strong focus is being put on the importance of creating a safe school culture and tapping into technology for limitless learning. In 2019, students, parents, teachers, and administrators are seeing changes both inside and outside of the classroom. One of the biggest changes in recent years comes in the form of technology. Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to change education tools and is expected to increase in implementation in U.S. classrooms by 47.5% in the next three years, according to the Artificial Intelligence Market in the U.S. Education Sector report. In addition to AI, other technologies are providing students with the opportunity to connect with classmates in other countries, giving teachers the ability to educate a virtual classroom from the comfort of their own home, and expanding access to applications that were once inaccessible. Another key focus in education this year is on ensuring that students feel safe, connected, supported, and challenged through a variety of different ways. School culture and safety are being addressed and adapted based on recent school safety concerns across the country. Teachers, administrators, families, Continued on next page > ROSS TOWNSHIP ❘ FALL 2019 23