U-46's EXPLORE 2016 Expo showcase college, career pathways
School District U-46, in partnership with its Citizens' Advisory Council and the Alignment Collaborative for Education, is presenting Explore 2016: A U-46 Community, Curriculum and Career Expo.
This event will showcase U-46 class offerings that build college and career readiness, as well as local employers and jobs in the region that require the skills taught in the district's classes.
"Explore 2016 will help students in fifth grade and beyond better plan their coursework and possible career pathways," said U-46 Chief Executive Officer Tony Sanders. "Students who are prepared to learn and succeed remain engaged throughout high school and will be more likely to succeed in college and careers."
The district's second curriculum and career expo will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Elgin Community College (ECC), 1700 Spartan Drive.
This free event will feature U-46 staff and students as well as organizations and local industry experts leading students in discussion and hands-on activities. ACE, a nonprofit community organization, is working with the district to expand community awareness and participation in district initiatives, such as the expo, to better prepare all students for college and career.
ACE supports the district's Strategic Plan and key goals, including developing a high-quality workforce from within the U-46 student population so they are prepared for the best jobs.
By aligning the community's education, workforce and economic development efforts, ACE intends to increase the intellectual capital and workforce capacity of the region.
"It is never too early to start planning for high school and beyond," said ACE Executive Director Raquel McCormick. "This is an extraordinary community-supported event that will allow students to let their imaginations soar and provide valuable information for plotting out their future in U-46."
At Explore 2016, student and parent conversations with industry experts are intended to increase their understanding about the relevance of high school course selection and expand their knowledge base about local careers.
Career demonstrations may help students discover natural interests and passions around which classes to select. Students and parents can also become better informed to work with school counselors on the high school course selection process.
There will be free shuttle busing every 30 minutes from all eight U-46 middle schools to and from ECC during the expo.
Another U-46 priority is to help more students take a three-year sequence of courses that lead to industry-recognized certification or credentials. Through the interactive "See it - Feel it - Experience it" demonstrations at Explore 2016, industry experts will connect Career & Technical Education classes to careers in the region.
Some of the career pathways that will be highlighted include those in health services such as a nursing assistant and an imaging technician, as well as jobs in the field of agriculture, food and natural resources such as a veterinary assistant, or careers in law, public safety and corrections such as a police officer and communications operator.
"Career & Technical Education is more than the standard manufacturing classes," said U-46 CTE Coordinator Kinasha Brown. "We offer a wide range of career pathways that allow students to consider many career options, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)."
The expo reflects the goals outlined in the district's new Strategic Plan. The first of four goals focuses on student achievement and the goal to educate the whole student by providing an enriched, high-quality experience that empowers all graduates to be competitive members of the global society.
Explore 2016 aims to help increase the number of students receiving industry certifications, thereby promoting a more skilled and educated workforce to help maintain the local economy.