Career Pathways and School Counselors

Career Pathways and School Counselors

By CRTC Director Steve Rothenberg

Our school counselors (along with CHS Social Worker Anna Marie DiPasquale and Principal Tom Sica) were joined by over of their 20 statewide peers on October 7th for a Career Pathways workshop at Manchester Community College.  The group toured the school, meet with professors and professional staff, engaged with a panel of executives from NH Restaurant and Lodging, Associated Building Contractors, Advanced Manufacturing and NH Automobile Dealers.  Lastly the group had the chance to hear from Ross Gittell, the Chancellor of the Community College System.

Career Pathways is a national initiative focused merging student’s career ambitions with logical and efficient educational models.  Economically, the State of NH is desperate to fill many quality jobs that require certificates and Associate’s Degrees.  These jobs pay well and put young workers on well-paying career tracks that involve large amount of up-front and continuing education (provided in most cases at almost no cost to workers).  High schools have historically struggled to understand and promote these pathways.  Changing this approach is the focus of current efforts.

Elements of Career Pathways reflect in a national initiative called Purpose First which is part of the Complete College for America initiative.  This initiative looks at what is working and what is not, to promote a new approach to better fuse educational routes and the workforce.  Purpose First is self described as,  “The initiative, funded by a $1.5 million grant from USA Funds, will enable students to pursue their college goals with a strong sense of purpose and increased motivation, enhanced confidence that a chosen program of study matches academic and personal strengths, and a clear understanding of future career opportunities.”

Next week I will be traveling to Washington D.C. to pitch the NH Story to JPMorgan Chase for the New Skills for Youth Grant.  If we win, NH would receive $2M to promote career pathways; in that case our efforts on October 7th becomes a small piece of the foundation to a much larger statewide Career Pathways movement.  More to come.