Career Education Program

Students identify and develop personal interests through course selection including an array of elective course offerings, participation in extracurricular clubs, sports, and activities, and engagement in our comprehensive career exploration software program.

Pennsylvania Career Education and Work (CEW) standards require students to compile an ongoing career portfolio containing specific "artifacts" or pieces of evidence that demonstrate engagement in career exploration and readiness. These artifacts must align with four key standards: Career Awareness, Employability Skills, Growth/Advancement, and Career Planning. Through activities in Schoolinks, such as career inventories, goal setting, and personal reflections, students develop essential workplace and employability skills while gaining a better understanding of their interests, strengths, and future career opportunities.

Students participate in a variety of career exploration experiences designed to help them discover and prepare for future career pathways. Opportunities may include job shadowing with business and community partners, curriculum-related field trips, career showcases, and visits to post-secondary institutions. Through these experiences, students gain exposure to different industries, workplace environments, and career opportunities while exploring their personal interests, skills, and aspirations.

Students may arrange job shadowing experiences independently or with support from the Career Education Counselor. Additional collaboration opportunities with leadership and mentoring organizations such as Junior Achievement (JA), Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW), and Youth Leadership Program (YLP) further enhance career readiness and professional development.

Contribute your time and expertise as a guest speaker. Share your personal journey and provide a realistic picture of potential careers, jobs, skills, and post-secondary education & training.

Host an excursion to your workplace, providing students with first-hand observation of the structure and operations of your business, organization, or institution. Showcases run from one to three hours or more.

Provide students greater exposure to careers and related professional and technical skills within your organization. Help students define their career goals and make connections between classroom learning and career success. The average time commitment is three to six hours.

Serve as a career mentor and provide encouragement and guidance in a student's field of interest. The mentorship is a very personalized experience with varying levels of time commitment.