According to a national study from Britebound and Education Strategy Group about how U.S. schools are preparing middle school students for careers after school, Pennsylvania was at the top of the list, comparing data from all 50 states. To build on this momentum, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Education formed a coalition with teams from Arizona, Kentucky, Washington and Arkansas to keep preparing students for life after high school.

“In Pennsylvania, we believe that career exploration is not just a high school conversation. It starts much earlier,” Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe said in a news release about the program. “Through initiatives like the Career Ready PA Coalition and our nation-leading federal K-12 Career Readiness Indicator, we’re making sure every learner has meaningful opportunities to connect with their future career pathway.”

This new career-readiness program will “put students in an advisory role, focus on hands-on learning experiences and leverage community partnerships,” the release reported.

Catasauqua Area School District Superintendent Dr. Christina Lutz-Doemling was proud to note the district will be taking part in this initiative. She reported Pennsylvania Department Career Readiness Adviser Laura Fridirici recognized and commended the district’s efforts. CASD is one of four school districts in the state selected to participate in the middle-level career exploration pilot to further enhance career readiness experiences.

According to Lutz-Doemling, Fridirici selected her as a superintendent leader in career readiness and employability skills to participate on the Pennsylvania team and serve as a member of the coalition for middle-level career exploration impact and learning network. She said she has already attended a middle-level career exploration meeting in Dallas, Texas.

After this meeting, Catasauqua Middle School was chosen to be one of the pilot schools involved in the new career readiness innovation program. Additionally, the district’s career connections coordinator, Kim Flueso, will serve as the CMS career readiness innovation program school coordinator and will work with the school counselors and administration to implement innovation program activities and further enhance career awareness and education.

CASD has already demonstrated a concerted effort toward career readiness and preparing students for life beyond school.

“At CASD, we are very proud of our efforts to infuse career awareness/career exploration K-12,” Lutz-Doemling said. “In 2010, we established our business/education partnership with B. Braun. Then in 2018-19, we received our first Teacher in the Workplace grant award, followed by our K-12 focus on employability skills. In 2020, we established a career facilitator/coordinator position, and we continue to work to enhance our K-12 content area curriculum with career experiences to integrate career ed and work standards.”

Lutz-Doemling noted CMS already has a number of programs and initiatives to encourage career awareness and exploration, such as taking part in the What’s So Cool about Manufacturing contest, the career-ready backpack challenge, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute tours, school counselor career counseling, Junior Achievement, EverFi online course experiences, virtual field trips, STEAM experiences/activities, Life Skills students organizing Catasauqua Community Cares Program backpacks and much more.

CMS is holding its annual achievement night May 7 to showcase the hard work and talents of the students, Lutz-Doemling reported. The event begins 6:30 p.m.

“This is always a special evening, and we are thrilled to build upon it with some new and engaging career awareness and education opportunities for our students and families,” Lutz-Doemling said. “Catasauqua Middle School’s achievement night brings families together to celebrate a year of academic growth, a student-led inaugural science fair and an interactive expo that bridges the gap between the classroom and eight future professional pathways.”

Students will be encouraged to participate in a career passport activity, where they can explore eight career pathways and interact with professionals and local businesses. As students engage with the professionals and local businesses representing each pathway, they will earn colored stickers for their passports. Completed passports can be submitted for entry into a raffle featuring baskets and prizes.

The event is being sponsored as part of Pennsylvania’s Remake Learning Days, providing middle school students with the opportunity to earn artifacts for their career portfolios.