SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Realizing Career Opportunities in Middle School
Did you know the West Virginia Department of Education has established an office dedicated to middle school career exploration ?
Education and industry have partnered to create new and engaging middle school lessons that encourage young people to investigate and identify their passions as they connect to careers . Through middle school career exploration activities , students expand and challenge themselves both intellectually and personally . As a result , various programs have been developed to introduce students to the exciting world of career exploration .
These programs include Discover Your Future , which introduces students to all 16 career clusters through short-term lessons that include guest speakers and industry field trips ; Empowerment Collaborative , which is a school-wide instructional shift that infuses career exploration into all academic courses through community-based , student-driven projects ; and Project Lead the Way – Gateway , which exposes students to Science , Technology , Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM ) pathways through hands-on projects focusing on careers within engineering , robotics , aerospace , biomedical science and computer science .
In addition to classroom instruction , education and industry have created exciting opportunities for middle schoolers to become immersed in the workforce through joint ventures . A prime example of these joint ventures is the West Virginia Manufacturing Association ’ s initiative Explore the New Manufacturing . This high-level , high-quality program provides
students with a glimpse into the manufacturing world through joint projects related to real-world problems .
In an effort to further expose middle school students to career exploration , West Virginia University , West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the West Virginia Department of Education have partnered to create the K-12 Speakers Bureau . This initiative aims to bring business professionals into the classroom as guest speakers to share their career pathway experiences . The STEAM TAC mobile classrooms were also created to visit middle schools across the state , helping educators and students fall in love with career exploration through hands-on Science , Technology , Engineering , Arts and Mathematics ( STEAM ) -based demonstrations and lessons .
Incorporating career exploration into middle school curriculum continues to expose young people to various career pathways and better prepares them for future academic and professional success . It motivates students to set goals , plan ahead and pursue their aspirations with confidence and enthusiasm . Students gain an understanding of the job opportunities that are available in the world around them . These middle school career exploration experiences are made possible because education and industry are working together for the betterment of West Virginia . Let ’ s continue to grow and develop new partnerships today , tomorrow and into the future . Contact the West Virginia Department of Education , Office of Middle School CTE if you or your company are interested in becoming an educational advocate and partner with your local middle school .
( 304 ) 558-2389 | careertechwv . com | alyssa . keedy @ k12 . wv . us