Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Jan/Feb 2019 | Page 5

Rapidly growing UCPS Career Readiness program prepares thousands of students for the workforce If there is one thing that Parkwood High teacher Carolyn Hoobler can rely on, it’s that her culinary classes will be packed each semester. The award-winning program, offered through Union County Public Schools’ (UCPS) Career Readiness department, is so popular among the school’s teens that it even has a waitlist. “Many of our students are actually working in the restaurant industry in part-time jobs, and we do so many hands-on activities that students are really drawn to this class,” Carolyn said, keeping a close eye on her students as they baked food for the school’s fall festival. “I’ve even had a few of my students tell me that they love Career Readiness courses because it gives them so many more options in the future.” That’s a sentiment that is also mirrored across the district, as thousands of students fill more than 18,000 spots in dozens of Career Readiness courses designed to help them prepare for future careers and gain real-world experience in some of the most in-demand career fields. In fact, demand for Career Readiness courses in automotive, robotics, public safety, drafting and accounting have grown so much each year that additional courses are being added throughout the district to accommodate the increased demand. Students at Marvin Ridge High now have the option to take architecture engineering and design courses, Cuthbertson High has introduced a veterinary assisting course to its students and Forest Hills High now offers more advanced coursework in automotive repair and carpentry this school year. Career Readiness Programs and with Career Readiness students earning nearly 8,000 credentials last school year in construction trade certifications, certifications from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, nurse aid and culinary credentials and more, it’s no wonder that many of the students view the department’s courses as an opportunity to gain real-world experience while still in high school. Among those students earning certifications is Parkwood High senior K.C. Jennings, who recently earned the nationally accredited five-year ServSafe certification accepted by health departments nationwide. It’s a credential that has proven to be beneficial to him currently in his part-time job and also one that he believes could be beneficial to him in the future. “Even though law enforcement is my end goal, I signed up for Career Readiness courses because I know that it’ll help me out in the long run no matter what I plan to pursue after high school. It’s even helping me out now,” K.C. said, adding that he has always enjoyed cooking. “My manager even said that he’s glad that I’m in these courses because it’s teaching me leadership skills and everything that I need to know for the job. I’m getting a well-rounded education, I’m getting prepared for life after high school and this will actually help me out a lot on scholarship applications.” Carolyn said students’ desire to have a well-rounded educational experience and be prepared for life after high school continues to attract them to Career Readiness courses. “The jobs are out there and students who have the skills and knowledge that we’re teaching them now can make very good wages,” Carolyn said. “Even if they don’t want to pursue culinary arts in the future, I always tell my students that it’s good to have different skills in your toolbox because you never know what the future can hold.” Parent Teacher Magazine • Nov/Dec 2018 • 3