Career Academies Rationale, Structure, Planning, Implementation
and Sustaining
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Career Academy Workshop Objectives Participants will know and
be able to: 1.Explain the rationale for Career Academies 2.Define
Career Academies and their 4 criteria 3.Explain the steps to
planning Career Academies
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Indicate your role at your school P = planning career academies
I = implementing career academies Years of implementation 1 st, 2
nd, etc.
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Career Academies In a Talent Development High School
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Four defining characteristics of Career Academies 1.Prepare all
students for any post secondary option 2. Small Self-Contained
Learning Community (own space, faculty, students, administration,
and support team) 3. Business Partners for advice and authentic
experiences 4. Student self-selection, open to all students
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Why Career Academies? Small learning communities foster more
positive relationships - personalization Improved school climate
Safe, serious, student mobility Increased student motivation
Relevant program with less apathy Improved student attendance and
promotion rates Greatly reduced dropouts
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Research shows that students experience: Anonymity : Many
students feel anonymous in their schools. Apathy : They do not see
the relevance of school. Relevance Career connections Personal
relationships A sense of community
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Organization of a Talent Development School Team Leader Career
Academy #1 Career Academy #2 Team Leader Team Leader Team Leader
Academy Leader Counselor Academy Leader Counselor Academy Leader
Counselor Academy Leader Counselor Career Academy #3 Central
Administration Principal Ninth Grade Academy Team Leader Team
Leader Team Leader Team Leader
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Talent Development High Schools Career Academy Pathways Career
Academy 250 350 Students 14-16 Teachers, 10 Advisories Counselor
Pathway 1 Career Focus 150 Students 7-8 Teachers Core Curriculum
Real World Experiences Team Leader 5 Advisories Goal: Common Prep.
Period for Majority of Staff with a Team Leader Who Has a Reduced
Schedule Pathway 2 Career Focus 150 Students 7-8 Teachers Core
Curriculum Real World Experiences Team Leader 5 Advisories
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A pathway identifies the more specific careers that are covered
under the broader Career Academy themes. Each pathway has a
sequence of courses. ACADEMY
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Career Academies Planning Criteria Survey student interest and
skills Build Upon School Strengths (staff and facilities) Consider
Local Labor Market Provide Variety of Career Academy Choices
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Career Academies are reflective of faculty strengths Encourage
staff members to work together with faculty who have similar
interests Generate enthusiasm among the faculty for establishing
Career Academies. This leads to ownership for planning and leading
academies.
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Career Clusters Public Services Marketing, Sales & Service
Manufacturing & Product Development Transportation Agriculture
& Natural Resources Arts, Media & Entertainment Building
Trades & Construction Energy & Utilities Educ, Child Dev,
& Family Services Engineering & Design Fashion &
Interior Design Finance & Business Health Science & Medical
Technology Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation Information
Technology Career Technical Education Industry Sectors
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A variety of Career Academy themes allows for each student to
find a Career Academy that suits the individuals strengths and
interests.
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Career Academy Examples Environmental Science Arts and
Humanities Sports Studies & Health /Wellness Transportation and
Engineering Technology Teaching and the Helping Professions Health
Sciences Global Business and Technology Restaurant and Hotel
Services Business and Finance Aerospace Technology Public Service
Legal and Criminal Justice
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The Planning Year Step 2: SLC Formation: October-November Step
3: Faculty SLC Selection: December Step 4: SLC Marketing
November-January Step 5: Student Selection/Placement: December-
January Step 6: The Nitty Gritty January to May Staffing &
Scheduling Facility Reorganization Baseline Data Collection
Professional Development Plan Step 7: Summer Work & Faculty
Retreat
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Implementation Years Deepening of SLC/Teaming Practice Putting
the Career in Career Academy Ongoing instructional improvement
supported by peer coaches Ongoing systems and Leadership
Development
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Self-Contained SLCs with Teams All Teachers scheduled within
the academy 4 x 4 Schedule Common prep time for teaching teams
Extra prep time for Team Leaders Double dose in Math and English
for students who need it Cross Academy Courses for specialty and
Advanced Courses Scheduling Goals:
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All students choose a pathway revolving around a career
interest. Each teacher in an academy is identified as a part of a
pathway. Pathway students are in pathway advisories. Pathway
advisors stay with advisory from year to year and receive
professional development in mentoring strategies. Room assignments
are clustered by pathway identification of teachers and advisories.
Career Academy Checklist
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Staff Members organized by academy
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Map of Small Learning Communities
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A three-year course sequence of career focused pathway courses
is identified and students are scheduled into these courses. Staff
Development time is provided for pathway teams to meet and discuss
team development strategies and student issues. Pathway teams (SLC
teams) develop pathway/SLC culture with room decorations,
newsletter, all-team meetings, awards programs, trips, and other
teaming strategies. Each SLC develops an advisory council made up
of partners in business, universities, government, and community.
Career Academy Checklist
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Student ID Cards by academy (personalization/identity)
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A parent advisory group is formed to work with the team for
support and to encourage parent involvement. The master schedule
allows for pathway teams to share a common prep time to discuss
pathway issues. The team leader and academy counselor work with
each pathway team to locate job shadowing and internship experience
during junior and senior years. Career Academy Checklist
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Advisory Board Structure and Management Information from NAF
National Academy Foundation (www.NAF.org)
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Role of Advisory Board Helps define the mission of the program
Assist in the development of Academy policies Provide paid
internships for qualified students Provide industry expertise to
support curriculum Business/Industry tours for teachers &
students Mentoring and job shadowing opportunities for teachers and
students
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Role of Advisory Board Assist in budget development Assist in
fundraising in support of the Academy Assist in promotional
activities Curriculum review and development Development of
competencies for career paths Provide awards and incentives for
teachers Provide scholarships for students Assist in the
development of a strategic plan
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Ways to be Engage Board Members Advisory Board Committee member
Paid internship provider / supervisor Classroom speaker Mentor
Job-shadow venue Coach, judge (Senior Projects) Speaker at Student
Conference
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Dont forget outreach involving Universities Service projects
Parents Cultural institutions Local, city and state government
School district Alumni
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WORKING IN TABLE GROUPS Think about a career themed
interdisciplinary unit/project/idea for your academy. Be prepared
to explain to the group including how each subject area teacher
will be involved (Extra credit will be given for creativity of idea
and creativity in sharing)