So many educators graduate high school, go to college, do their student teaching, and end up back in the classroom. Not only is it their job to teach students the curriculum, but also how to apply what they’ve learned to succeeding in their future.
Unfortunately, this task can be daunting as the demands of teaching and counseling students are so high that educators never get to leave the classroom themselves. Their own career paths lead them through a continual ring of education while their dedication keeps them there. Which is GREAT, kind of. Teachers benefit from experience, so they can diversify their teaching (as though there isn’t already enough on their plates).
In November, just before the craziness of the holidays, a number of teachers and counselors seized the opportunity to get out of their buildings for a day to explore Owen-Ames-Kimball (O-A-K) and the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavillion. What they found is there are some things you just can’t learn in a classroom.
Teachers IN Industry
Educators gathered in the morning to discuss reasons why building more career readiness concepts and skills into instruction is so critical to their students overall development. They also learned how these skills help to improve student engagement by making more connections between school and the world of work. Then they headed to the bus to build some connections of their own.
Sometimes, one just has to see and hear it from the experts themselves, before they can effectively understand it, let alone teach it to others. For example, the lab hosts at Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion explained how their processes for reshaping the speed of detecting, diagnosing, and treating cancer are not only nationally-recognized, but also have been proven to be the difference between life and death. They also shared that any student interested in doing scientific lab work in their future should NEVER choose Biology as a major, because it simply doesn’t translate. Who knew?
That wasn’t all. The hosts at O-A-K explained there are multiple pathways to a career, particularly in the construction trades. Educators learned that both field experience right out of high school and a degree-bearing track in the industry can lead to a career in construction. Educators experienced an active project at Frederik Meijer Gardens. They saw how complex the various tasks are and how many roles are required to solve problems on a daily basis and ensure a multi-million dollar, multi-year project will be completed on-time.
Reflecting and Implementing the Learning
Educators returned to Kent ISD to discuss what they had seen and heard. They began to think about how they could apply what they had learned in their classrooms. One educator said, “The Teachers IN Industry experiences are valuable for me. I always take away something I can apply in my classroom.”
How Can You Participate?
Interested in developing your students’ career readiness by exploring career opportunities? Sign up TODAY to visit Service Express and GE Aviation on March 4, 2020 or visit Configura and Grand Rapids Ophthamology on May 6, 2020. Don’t delay, as space is limited and slots fill up quickly!
#CareerReadiness #WeLeadLearning #KentISD
This blog post was written by Leah Theriault, Career Readiness Event Coordinator and Eric Kelliher, Career Readiness Consultant at Kent ISD. It was edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Development Coordinator at Kent ISD.
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