Kim K. Schock, Area Vocational Guidance Counselor
Elgin Public
Schools
110 NW Street, P.O. Box 70
Elgin, ND 58533
(701)
584-2374
Fax: (701) 584-3018
Serving four small rural communities in southwest North Dakota, this comprehensive program strives to foster career development of students at all levels, with emphasis on serving the needs of students from grades 7-12. The program is based on the National Career Development Guidelines and operates on a Management By Objectives plan which includes a needs matrix that outlines students' activities for the whole year. The matrix shows career information activities and the dates they are conducted, interest and values, aptitude and achievement, orientation information, peer tutor needs or opportunities and other special needs, and meetings with counselors or other school personnel. Ninth- through 12th-grade students take the CHOICES program, a required career class taught by both academic and vocational teachers, as well as administrators and staff, parents, and advisory committee members. Every student in the district's four schools has a career portfolio that is updated yearly and given to students upon graduation. An advisory committee composed of a student, a community member, and a guidance counselor determines resources for the guidance program. The guidance counselor provides teacher inservice so that teachers can incorporate relevant career-related activities into their courses. Job shadowing activities are conducted in conjunction with a school-to-work grant. An annual follow-up of all graduates is also conducted. Completion rates for all vocational programs are very high, and the annual dropout rate is usually zero.
Career and Technology Education Guidance and Counseling Program
Dr. Ed Foster, Counselor of Career and Technology Education
Dr. Linda
Anderson
Birdville Independent School District
6125 E. Belknap
Haltom
City, TX 76117
(817) 831-5786
Fax: (817) 838-7261
E-mail:
Linda_Anderson@qm.birdville.k12.tx.us
The goal of the Birdville Independent School District's (BISD) Career and Technology Education Guidance and Counseling Program is to assist students in making effective plans to achieve their educational and career goals. A variety of career awareness activities is available to BISD elementary students as a regular feature in their curriculum. During middle school, students focus on careers through classes and career days. In high school, students continue learning about themselves in relation to the world of work and must choose a career pathway. This K-12 program, administered through the district office and implemented in all schools, is a team effort of counselors, teachers, administrators, librarians, parents, businesses and industries, and community organizations. Student services counselors, campus counselors, and crisis counselors are available to assist every BISD student. Three certified career counselors work closely with all district counselors, teachers, and the entire team to identify resources, assess student interests and aptitudes, initiate programs, and incorporate career development activities.
High-quality materials designed for BISD students are available to help them develop career and education plans and select career pathways. Teachers at all levels incorporate career information into their classes to support students in making good career-related decisions. A commercial career information system is available on each middle and high school campus. All schools work closely with parents and are site-based managed. A handbook is available to assist elementary and middle school counselors and teachers in guiding students in their career development. In addition, guest speakers--often parents--visit classes to talk about their careers, and local business representatives frequently visit all the BISD schools. Career information is disseminated through parent meetings, student handbooks, group and individual counseling, assemblies, news media, cable television, videotapes, handouts, and word of mouth. An internship program is available, and students have many opportunities to discover their interests and aptitudes.
Flambeau Career Guidance and Counseling Program
Doug Spielman, 7-12 Counselor
Chuck Ericksen, Community Education
Director
School District of Flambeau
N5377 Maple Street
Tony, WI
54563
(715) 532-7760
Fax: (715) 532-5405
Located in a rural and economically disadvantaged part of northwestern Wisconsin, the School District of Flambeau serves only 700 students in grades 7-12; nonetheless, it is a very significant part of the Flambeau community. The Flambeau Career Guidance and Counseling Program (FCGC) is integrated into all aspects of the K-12 curriculum, and student progress is documented through portfolios. Students access information through the Wisconsin Career Information System and a wide variety of other state and national resources.
The nationally recognized Flambeau Community Education Program and the FCGC participate in a cooperative arrangement based on partnerships established over time. Teachers, students, and staff interact with members of the community who mentor, teach classes, and provide job shadowing and community-based learning experiences. In addition, some individuals serve on advisory councils, school improvement teams, and ad hoc action committees. Workshops, classes, forums, focus groups, and special presentations are conducted through the community education program. These activities focus on job skills development, personal development, career counseling, community leadership training, professional development, and parenting skills. Students, parents, and community members of all ages participate in these learning activities.
At all levels, the curriculum emphasizes experiential learning and helps students develop an inside view of various professions through entrepreneurship, artists-in-residence, and youth service learning programs. In addition, project-based learning engages students in real life problem-solving and allows them to demonstrate their academic and vocational skills. Students are involved in the FCGC Program through peer mentoring and peer instructional services in the areas of economics, entrepreneurship, leadership, peer pressure, anger management, drug and alcohol refusal skills, traffic safety, self-esteem, and health.
School-Wide Counseling Program To Support Tech Prep
Dr. Anna Marie Yates, Counselor
Elk Grove High School
500 W. Elk
Grove Boulevard
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 718-4455
Fax: (847)
718-4515
The School-Wide Counseling Program To Support Tech Prep at Elk Grove High School serves approximately 1,700 students every year. Its purpose is to organize and update a well-defined system of guidance activities to promote the career development of all students representing many cultures and having diverse academic abilities. Led by a team of nine counselors, the counseling program addresses the needs of all students through various services, including English as a Second Language, the Talent Development Program, counseling, special education services, and advisory groups. Guidance and counseling activities are shared by other school personnel, including the social worker, school psychologist, school nurse, services learning director, staff of the special education department, assessment director, and all student services personnel.
The counseling program is an integrated part of the total educational process at Elk Grove High School and involves all school personnel. This outcome-based program is organized into a planned curriculum empowering students to learn more effectively and efficiently. The program provides specialized counseling and intervention services and offers maximum student growth and development in three domains: (1) educational/academic--learning to learn; (2) personal, social, physical--learning to live; and (3) career--learning to work. A key feature of each students' career development is the development of a portfolio, which includes all test results, students' best work, a résumé, and a cover letter. Junior and senior students can gain experience in the workplace by participating in the Public Service and Community Resource course, volunteer work, and internships. The strong school and business partnerships in Elk Grove provide students with the opportunity to work at places that match their work style or preference.
Shared Counselor Partnership Program
Vicki Stanfield, Program Director
North Harris College
2700 West
W. Thorne Drive
Houston, TX 77073-3499
(281) 618-5434
Fax: (281)
618-5402
E-mail: stanfiv@nhc.nhmccd.cc.tx.us
North Harris College (NHC), in collaboration with its two service area school districts, Aldine Independent School District and Spring Independent School District, developed the Shared Counselor Partnership Program to facilitate the successful transition of secondary students into postsecondary education programs. The Shared Counselor Partnership Program maximizes student services in order to address the needs of all students, including members of special populations; students from different racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds; and students at risk of failing or dropping out of school. This comprehensive student services system stresses the importance of early guidance of students in selecting education and career pathways through coordinated assessment, counseling, advisement, financial aid, and placement services. The program has forged strong ties with businesses and industries, public schools, universities, and other community entities to provide organized and connected learning opportunities for its diverse student population.
The Shared Counselor Partnership Program meets students' career development needs and concerns through group and individual counseling; group workshops on various topics, including stress management, family issues, résumé writing, and career planning; a peer/mentor system; vocational leadership conferences; and motivational speakers. The shared counselors, who function both as members of the high school's guidance program and as college advisors, assist students in career planning, preparation, and transition. Beginning in the 8th grade, students can take a career investigation class, are introduced to the Get a Life Career Portfolio, and develop their individual career plans. Senior-to-Senior Conferences provide an opportunity for graduates from the previous year to tell current seniors about college and/or career life after high school. Parents and students attend the Improved Career Decision-Making Workshop to learn about the latest career trends identified by the Texas State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. Career fairs and college night programs provide students with relevant information to help them make appropriate career choices.
Van Buren Intermediate School District's Comprehensive Career Guidance Program
Donald Olendorf, Administrator for Special Programs
Van Buren
Intermediate School District Vocational-Technical Center
250 South
Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
(616) 674-8001, ext. 303
Fax: (616)
674-8954
E-mail: DOLENDORF@aol.com
The Van Buren Intermediate School District's Comprehensive Career Guidance Program helps youth and adults in Lawrence, Michigan--the state's second poorest county--(1) make informed career and educational decisions, (2) develop and implement individual career plans, and (3) prepare portfolios to document their progress toward educational and career goals. This program is founded on Donald Super's idea that an effective career guidance and development program enhances students' abilities to make sound career decisions and plans. Additionally, the program incorporates technology into its guidance content and delivery to better meet the needs of area students, educators, employers, and the community at large.
Counselors at the Vocational-Technical Center collaborate with counselors and teachers in 15 local districts to help all students in their career and educational planning. Teachers use prefolio workbooks to help 8th or 9th graders identify their top career interests and abilities. Students participate in various structured career awareness and exploration activities, including reading, computer information, job simulations, career internships, job shadowing, and work-based learning. With the counselor's guidance, students translate their decisions into career plans known as Employability Development Plans (EDP). In addition to the EDP, students also develop a four-year program plan based on their career and postsecondary decisions. The EDP is the starting point for student-managed portfolios that documents students' progress toward the goals outlined in their career plans. While the EDP is the index for the portfolio, a résumé based on student information in the portfolio serves as its summary.
The Van Buren Intermediate School District Vocational-Technical Center's Comprehensive Career Guidance Program was recognized as an exemplary program by the U.S. Office of Education in 1986 and by the United States Army in 1994 under its Planning for Life Awards.