SC Alaska News

#ASDShineBright Kendra Besh, Wendler Middle School Counselor and Sherrie Betts, Mirror Lake Middle School Counselor teamed up to support King Tech High School's Career Exploration Summer School Program for the second year. 

This dynamic duo energetically worked with students during their Advisory period and hosted a raffle for students who demonstrated employability skills each day. Oh, and don't forget ice cream Fridays!  The counselors visited each classroom and passed out ice cream bars to students and staff.

The Career Exploration Summer School Program is designed to provide incoming freshman students the opportunity to explore up to six different career fields of interest. 

Betts said she was excited to see the opportunity for counselors available for a second year.

"I jumped onboard because I love the idea of promoting college and career readiness and focusing on career exploration," said Betts. "The great thing about this program is we have all kinds of students participating. There's something for everybody here and so many opportunities. I get so excited for them to see actual careers and get hands on training." 

Something new the counselors did this summer (but not new to the program) was co-teach a daily career advisory class. Besh said during the class they get to know the group of students and review the program they chose. Watching them explore their interests versus their aptitudes is when the lightbulb really goes off. 

"That's our time to connect with the students," said Besh. "We are presenting material but most importantly we are helping them network and make connections with one another." 

Besh said while the foundations of reading, writing and math are essential, students don't always feel successful. 

"There are students who struggle in middle school, specifically eighth grade, because they don't see the relevancy in what they're learning," said Besh. "Having us as a district give them the foundational skills but also giving them access to employability skills is powerful. You have to know fractions to measure and cut wood, in culinary, cosmetology. It's helping students see why the math they have to learn is practical and why it's necessary."

The counselors both said the program inspires them to take what they learn from the program and the students they work with back to their schools. 

KTHS Principal Dr. Kern McGinley said one thing that helped improve the program this summer was having staff return from the first year.

"For progress to be made, consistency matters," said McGinley. "Consistency is the core of it all. It helps with the knowledge, confidence and the awareness of the impact the program has on the students."

Thank you to all of the staff that helped make this program a success for KTHS! We hope to see you next summer.

Original source can be found here.