By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph School District is working to help students find a career path before they even get to college.
Current Director of Curriculum and Instruction Stacia Studer is part of a team exploring the idea of college and career pathways.
Studer says as early as eighth grade, students are presented career pathways and also take a test to identify their strengths towards a career.
"In the end what we have is a product of ninth through twelfth grade, a student would have four career paths to choose from," Studer tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And in that pathway, we would align core work and market value assets to make our students successful in the career that they want to lead and the purpose that they've been given in life."
Studer says much of this would not be possible without a partnership with Mosaic Life Care as well as the expansion of the Hillard Technical School.
Studer says an expansion at Hillyard Technical School has opened up more pathways for students
"Because our students are getting real experience in our classrooms and saying this is right for me or this is not right for me," Studer explains. "And I'd rather them figure that out in high school, then later in college when they're paying for it."
But even with what they've already achieved, Studer feels there's still more that can be done
"We're looking at it by grade level, and we're starting with what are we already doing consistently across our district? And what you'll find is, very little," Studer says. "And so, we want to place intentional work there to help our school system, whether you're at Oak Grove, whether you're at Eugene Field, whether you're at Hosea, that you're receiving the same experiences and opportunities to build that career identity."
Studer was recently named to take on the role of Assistant Superintendent, replacing Ashly McGinnis as she becomes the new Superintendent.
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