Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Even as Regional Career Pathways are officially rolling out statewide starting this year, some local career pathways have been around for a long time. The education and training career pathway in human services at Kimberly High School is an example. And it couldn’t have gotten off the ground without someone to shepherd the program. Kendra Scherg, a family and consumer science (FCS) educator with 21 years of experience, became that person. Yet she’s the first to admit that it has taken a special partnership to make the pathway a success.
“The support from the administration and district levels, to the board, parents, and colleges is amazing,” says Scherg. “And the principal is a huge supporter of the career and technical education (CTE) program, too.”
Building a Quality Program
The pathway consists of seven sequenced CTE courses, many of which are dual-credit through Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) or UW-Oshkosh. Scherg’s two vocational licenses enable her to teach these.
The program also includes two DPI Skills Standards Programs: Assistant Child Care Teacher (ACCT) and Infant and Toddler. These industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) are accepted statewide by YoungStar, Wisconsin’s child care quality rating and improvement system. Graduates with more credits, experience, and IRCs are positioned for higher wages, better schedules, and extra transfer credit for postsecondary education. The IRC enables students to work in a regulated, licensed child care center at age 17.
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
“Those students leave high school ready for a career as a lead qualified teacher,” says Karyn VanRyzin, Director of Community Child Care Center Inc. in Kimberly.
VanRyzin would know. Her Center partners with the high school to provide work-based learning opportunities to students. As juniors earning the ACCT IRC, students spend two mornings a week in licensed group child care centers, such as the Center.
“They can learn about children in groups, which is very different from babysitting for one or two,” says VanRyzin.
The child care co-op program takes work-based learning a step further. Co-op students collaborate with classmates for two morning classes. The rest of their day is spent in school-supported employment at local child care centers where they earn 450 hours in licensed care during the semester.
“For some, it’s their first job,” says VanRyzin. “They often need help with their soft skills. They have a schedule, and they need to stick with it and balance that with their other obligations.”
Graduates of the Kimberly pathway go on to permanent jobs in early childcare centers, or continue on to college in elementary education or other related majors.
Pathway Helps Students Find Their Way
When Megan LaFleur, a recent graduate of Kimberly, thought at first she might like to work with children as a nurse. She found out fairly quickly, “that wasn’t for me.”
But she adds, “I’ve always loved working with children and helping other people.” After talking with Ms. Scherg, LaFleur decided to explore the first class in the education and training pathway, Early Childhood Development. She ended up taking all seven courses and has set her sights on studying special education with an emphasis on early childhood.
Being able to “test drive” the nursing pathway helped LaFleur decide what NOT to pursue. As a result she is less likely to change her major in college or take unnecessary college courses.
This local career pathway is launching careers at Kimberly High School. Local career pathways will continue to be successful options for students to explore and pursue career options. CTE educators may also want to tap into the regional career pathways that collaborative groups are establishing with employers in your area this year. Either way, career pathways work for students and communities.