Career Academies

1. Career Academies Rationale, Structure, Planning, Implementation and Sustaining

2. Career Academy Workshop Objectives Participants will know and be able to: • Explain the rationale for Career Academies • Define Career Academies and their 4 criteria • Explain the steps to planning Career Academies

3. Indicate your role at your school • P = planning career academies • I = implementing career academies • Years of implementation 1st, 2nd, etc.

4. Career Academies In a Talent Development High School

5. Four defining characteristics of Career Academies • Prepare all students for any post secondary option • 2. Small Self-Contained Learning Community • (own space, faculty, students, • administration, and support team) • 3. Business Partners for advice and authentic experiences • 4. Student self-selection, open to all students

6. Why Career Academies? Small learning communities foster more positive relationships - personalization Improved school climate “Safe, serious, student mobility” Increased student motivation “Relevant program with less apathy” Improved student attendance and promotion rates Greatly reduced dropouts

7. Research shows that students experience: Apathy: They do not see the relevance of school. Relevance Career connections Anonymity: Many students feel anonymous in their schools. Personal relationships A sense of community

8. Organization of a Talent Development School Central Administration Principal Ninth Grade Academy Career Academy #1 Career Academy #2 Career Academy #3 Academy Leader Counselor Academy Leader Counselor Academy Leader Counselor Academy Leader Counselor Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader

9. Talent Development High SchoolsCareer Academy Pathways Career Academy 250 – 350 Students 14-16 Teachers, 10 Advisories Counselor Pathway 1 Career Focus 150 Students 7-8 Teachers Core Curriculum “Real World” Experiences Team Leader 5 Advisories Pathway 2 Career Focus 150 Students 7-8 Teachers Core Curriculum “Real World” Experiences Team Leader 5 Advisories Goal: Common Prep. Period for Majority of Staff with a Team Leader Who Has a Reduced Schedule

10. A pathway identifies the more specific careers that are covered under the broader Career Academy themes. Each pathway has a sequence of courses. ACADEMY

12. Career AcademiesPlanning Criteria • Survey student interest and skills • Build Upon School Strengths (staff and facilities) • Consider Local Labor Market • Provide Variety of Career Academy Choices

13. Career Academies are reflective of faculty strengths Encourage staff members to work together with faculty who have similar interests Generate enthusiasm among the faculty for establishing Career Academies. This leads to ownership for planning and leading academies.

14. Engineering & Design Energy & Utilities Fashion & Interior Design Educ, Child Dev, & Family Services Building Trades & Construction Finance & Business Career Technical Education Industry Sectors Health Science & Medical Technology Arts, Media & Entertainment Agriculture & Natural Resources Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation Transportation Information Technology Public Services Manufacturing & Product Development Marketing, Sales & Service Career Clusters

15. A variety of Career Academy themes allows for each student to find a Career Academy that suits the individuals’ strengths and interests.

16. Career Academy Examples

17. The Planning Year Step 2: SLC Formation: October-November Step 3: Faculty SLC Selection: December Step 4: SLC Marketing November-January Step 5: Student Selection/Placement: December-January Step 6: The Nitty Gritty – January to May • Staffing & Scheduling • Facility Reorganization • Baseline Data Collection • Professional Development Plan Step 7: Summer Work & Faculty Retreat

18. Implementation Years Deepening of SLC/Teaming Practice Putting the Career in Career Academy Ongoing instructional improvement supported by peer coaches Ongoing systems and Leadership Development

19. Scheduling Goals: • Self-Contained SLCs with Teams • All Teachers scheduled within the academy • 4 x 4 Schedule • Common prep time for teaching teams • Extra prep time for Team Leaders • Double dose in Math and English for students who need it • Cross Academy Courses for specialty and Advanced Courses

20. Career Academy Checklist • All students choose a pathway revolving around a career interest. • Each teacher in an academy is identified as a part of a pathway. • Pathway students are in pathway advisories. • Pathway advisors stay with advisory from year to year and receive professional development in mentoring strategies. • Room assignments are clustered by pathway identification of teachers and advisories.

21. Staff Members organized by academy

22. Map of Small Learning Communities FAITH BEFH HHC FSA

23. Career Academy Checklist • A three-year course sequence of career focused pathway courses is identified and students are scheduled into these courses. • Staff Development time is provided for pathway teams to meet and discuss team development strategies and student issues. • Pathway teams (SLC teams) develop pathway/SLC culture with room decorations, newsletter, all-team meetings, awards programs, trips, and other teaming strategies. • Each SLC develops an “advisory council” made up of partners in business, universities, government, and community.

24. Student ID Cards by academy (personalization/identity)

25. Career Academy Checklist • A parent advisory group is formed to work with the team for support and to encourage parent involvement. • The master schedule allows for pathway teams to share a common prep time to discuss pathway issues. • The team leader and academy counselor work with each pathway team to locate job shadowing and internship experience during junior and senior years.

27. Advisory Board Structure and Management Information from NAF National Academy Foundation (www.NAF.org)

28. Role of Advisory Board • Helps define the mission of the program • Assist in the development of Academy policies • Provide paid internships for qualified students • Provide industry expertise to support curriculum • Business/Industry tours for teachers & students • Mentoring and job shadowing opportunities for teachers and students

29. Role of Advisory Board • Assist in budget development • Assist in fundraising in support of the Academy • Assist in promotional activities • Curriculum review and development • Development of competencies for career paths • Provide awards and incentives for teachers • Provide scholarships for students • Assist in the development of a strategic plan

30. Ways to be Engage Board Members • Advisory Board Committee member • Paid internship provider / supervisor • Classroom speaker • Mentor • Job-shadow venue • Coach, judge (Senior Projects) • Speaker at Student Conference

31. Don’t forget outreach involving • Universities • Service projects • Parents • Cultural institutions • Local, city and state government • School district • Alumni

32. WORKING IN TABLE GROUPS Think about a career themed interdisciplinary unit/project/idea for your academy. Be prepared to explain to the group including how each subject area teacher will be involved (Extra credit will be given for creativity of idea and creativity in sharing)

33. Thank you! Comments, Questions, and Contact Info: Tara Madden tmadden@jhu.edu