Triad educators are working to ensure “every future matters” within their district.
The phrase, which is emblazoned on a new banner in Triad High School, is guiding the district’s philosophy, said Director of Academic Programs Patrick Johnson.
During Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, Johnson shared several career preparedness initiatives that are in the planning stages.
First, he introduced “student success days” that will be rolled out at Triad High School this fall.
Through the initiative, high school students will meet with one of several administrators, including Johnson and Principal Doug Lowery, once a month.
“We really want to make sure each student in our building is known,” Johnson said.
Along with integrating more career pathways into the high school curriculum, Johnson said the individual meetings will help with career exposure and goal setting.
Whether a student desires to enter the workforce, enlist in military service or pursue higher education, Johnson said administrators want to be aware of their goals and help high schoolers achieve them.
Johnson said there are approximately 80 students per grade level at the high school.
“Student success days” would likely happen once per week, Johnson said. The first week of the month could be dedicated to freshmen, the second to sophomores and so forth.
Johnson acknowledged that meeting with each student monthly is an ambitious goal, but said he believes it is doable with shorter sessions.
“I think that’s great,” Board President Chris Millice said, adding that he was “lucky” to even bump into a guidance counselor when he was in high school.
Board member Mike Perry agreed. He said he appreciates the district-wide effort to build relationships with students.
“Hopefully they come to you with questions instead of you having to ask,” Perry said.
Johnson said that is the goal.
“We really want to be intentional,” he said.
Superintendent Vickie Hoffman added that preparing students for success after graduation is a shared goal among districts throughout Champaign County.
However, because educators from each district are creating individual career development and internship programs, she said local businesses can become overwhelmed.
Hoffman said she is meeting with the Champaign County Commissioners next week to request $300,000 to fund a three-year position that would “tie (career preparation efforts) together for the whole county.”
If approved, she said the employee would create a “playbook” that lists businesses and contacts that students can be connected with.
Hoffman said the goal is to “streamline” the process for all local students.
Johnson said developing connections with area businesses will pay dividends for students.
He said a 2021 graduate was connected with Bundy Baking Solutions in the spring. He recently applied for a position at the company and told Johnson he was hired Thursday.
Johnson said he hopes every student at Triad has the opportunity to follow a similar path.
“We want to help them be taking the next step in life and be ready to go,” he said.
In other business:
– Hoffman said the district recently held a strategic plan day.
She explained that the team meets once a month to discuss one specific aspect of the district’s strategic plan. From there, building representatives create goals that will be implemented at those grade levels.
Board member Matt McConnell, who was present at the meeting, said he appreciates the intentionality behind every staff members’ goal-setting.
“It’s really nice to see… the passion our staff has for improvement,” he said.
Millice echoed his sentiments.
“The biggest thing I see and feel is the pride in this community right now,” he said. “It’s very, very contagious.”