School & Family Magazine Newstand Iredell-Statesville Winter 2017 | Page 6

Career Pathways for
Middle School Students
On Tuesday, October 10, 2017, Iredell-
Statesville Schools Career and Technical
Education Department, NC Works, Centralina
Workforce Development (NextGen),
Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Iredell
County Economic Development Corporation,
Mitchell Community College and Mooresville
Graded Public Schools Career and Technical
Education Department sponsored Career
Pathways for 8th grade students. This event,
held at the Statesville Civic Center, brought
in approximately 400 students representing
Iredell-Statesville’s nine middle schools as
well as students from Mooresville Graded
School District.
The focus for presenters was to interact
with each student, incorporate a hands-on
activity, and address the following questions:
Amy Bice, Career Development Coordinator
for Middle School Programs spoke to groups
1. What training do you need for this career?
of students at each middle school about the
businesses hosting individual breakout sessions.
2. What do you enjoy most about this career?
Businesses were selected to represent career
pathways that currently show marked growth in
3. What beginning salaries or hourly wages can an employment based on national and local statistics.
entry level employee expect?
Among participating community partners were
4. What kind of advancement is available in this Iredell Health Systems, Doosan Portable Power,
career field?
Roush Yates, G.L. Wilson Building Company,
Johnson Concrete Company, Statesville Fire
5. If you were going to high school today, what Department and Energy United. The opportunities
classes do you think would help prepare you these participants provided to students ranged
for a job in this career?
from taking blood pressure, assembling an engine,
using a 3D printer, designing a small structure,
Exposure to career information throughout
understanding masonry construction techniques,
middle school and high school will assist students
and the many facets of fire service to understanding
in planning for their futures. With this in mind, all
the job of a lineman in supplying power to a
students participated in an hour-long activity titled
community.
“Reality Check” by Solomon McAuley and Gary
Mason from Centralina Workforce Development
Iredell Health Systems identified 27 careers in
(NextGEN). During this time, students explored
the healthcare industry along with certifications
financial concepts related to careers and cost of
required and average salary. Students had the
living fluctuation based on desired standard of living. opportunity to take blood pressures, listen to
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