Students are pictured speaking with prospective employers during the recent Champaign County Career Fair. Juniors and seniors from Triad were at the event to learn more about potential workplaces and career preparedness.
(Photo submitted)
—
Triad educators are working to ensure that students get a glimpse into possible career fields before taking the jump.
During the district’s Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Director of Academic Programs Patrick Johnson said, whether through career fairs, internships or job shadowing, he wants to make sure students have as much preparation for their futures as possible.
Johnson said it wasn’t until two years into his wife’s nursing studies that the college students watched blood being drawn. Her roommate fainted and was forced to reconsider whether it was the right job for her.
“Two years in, that’s a hell of a time to find that out,” said Board member Matt McConnell.
Johnson said he and Champaign County Business School Liaison Chris Flowers, whose position is funded by the county commissioners, are working to prevent that among Triad students by giving them more opportunities to explore jobs while in high school.
Johnson highlighted a career expo that was held at the Champaign County Fairgrounds on Feb. 22.
Flowers said 849 juniors and seniors throughout the county attended, where they could hear from 55 businesses.
She said feedback from both students and employers in attendance was largely positive, but some changes will be incorporated moving forward.
Flowers said another career fair is scheduled for the fall on Sept. 26, so students will have more time to consider employment options before graduating.
Additionally, she said businesses plan to incorporate more hands-on activities. For instance, Ohio Operating Engineers has a crane that students can operate at the fairgrounds.
Johnson said one of his biggest goals is opening students’ eyes to the range of job opportunities they have, including those very close to home.
“A lot of our kids are just unaware… this is in Champaign County,” he said.
The district is also working to integrate more internship and pre-apprenticeship programs, even on a one-on-one basis for specific students, so high schoolers can explore their interests and skills.
Superintendent Vickie Hoffman said district officials are open to creative solutions that will allow students to participate in their desired fields.
Along those lines, Johnson noted that he and Flowers are working on a program that would transport students to Rittal, a manufacturing company in Urbana, at noon on school days to participate in pre-apprenticeship programs.
Flowers said she is impressed with the measures Triad officials are willing to take in order to prepare their students for life after graduation.
“Triad is very forward-thinking,” she said.
Beyond just career exposure, Flowers said she is working to ensure students have a better chance of being offered a job and retaining it.
In roundtables with businesses, she said many note that they feel young people and adults alike do not have the basic “employability” skills many companies desire in their staff members, down to when to arrive on time for a shift.
Johnson said educators at Triad are working to instill job preparedness skills, including how to create a resume and how to prepare for a job interview.
Flowers said, in her position, she is also working to open doors for students beyond their typical options.
She said she recently secured grant funding that will allow 35 to 40 students to participate in driver’s education courses for just $25. Flowers noted that, especially for students who live in more rural areas of the county, they may automatically exclude employment opportunities that they do not have the ability to drive to.
Flowers said she is hopeful driver’s education courses will allow Triad students to explore the variety of jobs in more urban areas, like Urbana.