HomeArts and AcademicsCareer Exploration

Career Exploration

To maintain a thriving economy, students need to be prepared for high-demand, well-paying jobs, yet there are currently more jobs than skilled workers to fill them. This series looks at how schools are preparing students for the future workforce.

Discovering the ‘why’ of career exploration

Northview Morgan Jarema

Grow MainStreet is helping the district — and middle-school students — connect many of the dots between today’s learning and career awareness...

New initiative aims to connect students with careers & schools with employers

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kent ISD expands career exploration and work-based opportunities through its new Career and Talent Development initiative...

Kent Career Tech Center and Kent Transition Center to merge

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The Kent Career Tech Center and Kent Transition Center merger, planned for the 2023-24 school year, is aimed at giving students more opportunities for career exploration...

Hands-on learning means expanded skills

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The pilot course in a planned merger of KTC and Tech Center programs shows signs of broadening skills-based learning to a wider student population...

‘I can’t imagine doing anything else’

Northview Morgan Jarema

This Northview Next Career Center grad discovered a new passion his senior year and landed a good job right out of high school...

Engineering internship helps Tech Center student explore career

Caledonia Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Isaac Clark never knew how complicated making a box could be until he landed an internship at Michigan Lasercut...

00:00:00

Playing with fire

Grandville Brett Atwood

The high school’s auto tech students are preparing this car for a full restoration — and preparing for a great career at the same time...

Framing the Future

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

West Michigan Works! Construction Roadshow gives students an introduction to the construction field...

Coming clean with chemistry

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

STEM Academy students are on their way to cleaning up as they make, market and sell soap...

GRPS works to create direct teacher pipeline

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

GRPS was one of 44 districts across the state announced a year ago as part of the new program...

Career fair exposes students to some 40 employers looking to hire

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Breakout sessions featured panel discussions on resume-building, career pathway options, interviewing and more...

Educators Rising empowers future teachers

Wyoming Alexis Stark

The new class is part of a national effort that aims to draw high-school students to the profession...

Employers, meet your future workforce

Wyoming Erin Albanese

About 120 students learned of the many jobs out there from representatives of nearly 30 different professions...

Manufacturing lab offers core credits, industry certification

Northview Morgan Jarema

Starting this school year, every student who attends Northview Next’s Career Center spends two days a week inside a portable classroom turned manufacturing lab at the back of the East Beltline campus...

Teaching the future teachers

Career Exploration Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kent Career Tech Center students get hands-on teaching experience as part of the new Teacher Academy program...

Regular school, meet real world

Kelloggsville Phil de Haan

Students at Kelloggsville High School get a chance to explore careers, gain valuable experience and make money as juniors and seniors...

123 4 Page 2 of 4

- Sponsorship -

GET OUR HEADLINES IN YOUR EMAIL

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

Join these sponsors

- Sponsorship -

MEDIA PARTNERS

School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

ABOUT US

School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

Inspired by Taylor Swift, she wants to be on stage

What it means to be a ‘Grad with Grit’

Sophomore proves to herself and others: ‘I can do anything’

National Merit Scholarship winner plans career in medical field

Did you hear the news? Longtime director leads final show

Partnership between district and church creates opportunity in the arts

Healthcare leaders ask students for ideas, solutions

Invention the focus of summer camp

‘Red Hawk Rivals’ episode 4: Percussion

Students learn today — and also lead today

What do teachers think of AI in school?

Dune ride caps learning for English language biology students

Career Exploration

GET OUR HEADLINES IN YOUR EMAIL

SUSTAINING SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

ABOUT US

FOLLOW US

OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS