Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 5

Rapidly growing UCPS Career Readiness program prepares thousands of students for the workforce
If there is one thing that
Parkwood High teacher Carolyn
Hoobler can rely on, it’s that her
culinary classes will be packed each
semester.
The award-winning program,
offered through Union County Public
Schools’ (UCPS) Career Readiness
department, is so popular among
the school’s teens that it even has a
waitlist.
“Many of our students are actually
working in the restaurant industry in
part-time jobs, and we do so many
hands-on activities that students are
really drawn to this class,” Carolyn
said, keeping a close eye on her
students as they baked food for the
school’s fall festival.
“I’ve even had a few
of my students tell me
that they love Career
Readiness courses
because it gives them
so many more options
in the future.”
That’s a sentiment
that is also mirrored
across the district, as
thousands of students
fill more than 18,000
spots in dozens of
Career Readiness courses designed to help them prepare for
future careers and gain real-world experience in some of the most
in-demand career fields.
In fact, demand for Career Readiness courses in automotive,
robotics, public safety, drafting and accounting have grown
so much each year that additional courses are being added
throughout the district to accommodate the increased demand.
Students at Marvin Ridge High now have the option to take
architecture engineering and design courses, Cuthbertson High
has introduced a veterinary assisting course to its students
and Forest Hills High now offers more advanced coursework in
automotive repair and carpentry this school year.
Career Readiness Programs and with Career Readiness
students earning nearly 8,000 credentials last school year in
construction trade certifications, certifications from the Office
of the State Fire Marshal, nurse aid and culinary credentials
and more, it’s no wonder that many of the students view the
department’s courses as an opportunity to gain real-world
experience while still in high school.
Among those students earning certifications is Parkwood
High senior K.C. Jennings, who recently earned the nationally
accredited five-year ServSafe certification accepted by health
departments nationwide. It’s a credential that has proven to be
beneficial to him currently in his part-time job and also one that
he believes could be beneficial to him in the future.
“Even though law enforcement is
my end goal, I signed up for Career
Readiness courses because I know
that it’ll help me out in the long run
no matter what I plan to pursue after
high school. It’s even helping me out
now,” K.C. said, adding that he has
always enjoyed cooking. “My manager
even said that he’s glad that I’m in
these courses because it’s teaching
me leadership skills and everything
that I need to know for the job. I’m
getting a well-rounded education, I’m
getting prepared for life after high
school and this will actually help me
out a lot on scholarship applications.”
Carolyn said students’ desire to
have a well-rounded educational
experience and be prepared for life
after high school continues to attract
them to Career Readiness courses.
“The jobs are out there and students who have the skills and
knowledge that we’re teaching them now can make very good
wages,” Carolyn said. “Even if they don’t want to pursue culinary
arts in the future, I always tell my students that it’s good to have
different skills in your toolbox because you never know what the
future can hold.”
Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2018 • 3