By MATT PIKE
The St. Joseph School District is helping students prepare for what comes after high school through the College and Career Pathways program.
The program gives students an opportunity in high school to explore their interests, discover their strengths, and prepare for what comes next by choosing a multi-year program of study which connects their high school experience to future college, career, and life goals
Director of Secondary Education Kati Reid says the program looks to offer different career pathways to all students as well.
"So, looking at skill trades, all the way to students that say no I'm going to be in college all the way through my doctorate or my PHD, " Reid explains on the KFEQmunnity show. "We want to be able to service all those different paths we have here in the St. Joseph community."
Reid says each pathway helps give students a foundational skillset in each, preparing them for what different careers are, but points out as they head into the future it can also help them know what's not for them.
"Let's say our pathway of Business or pathway of marketing, and then if you go through that path and you decide tried it, definitely going to college for something else, that's fine," Reid says. "I like to say change your major in high school. instead of changing it in college."
And in the future, Reid points out the program also provides hands-on experience for college students from the district.
"Because sometimes we know we're going to go to college and we're not exactly sure for what, and we're collecting all these college credits and then we go and our first trip into our college advisor they say well you need to pick your major," Reid says. "And we want to make sure our students are not blindsided by that, and they really do feel ready to decide when they're meeting with that college advisor."
Reid says the goal of the program is to ensure students are as prepared as possible for college, or the working world, as soon as they graduate from high school.
Interview
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.