Thanks
to the special efforts of Mid-South Community College Career Coach Cortez
Washington, two MSCC concurrent-enrollment/Academies of West Memphis students
and one AWM student spent a day helping state lawmakers with their legislative
duties.
On
Feb. 10, Washington transported Mid-South students Kelsi Burns (taking three
classes at MSCC) and Anna Beth Haney (taking two college classes), as well as
Academies student Sabina Therenciel, to Little Rock to participate in the 90th
General Assembly of the Arkansas State Legislature. The young women enjoyed a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I’m
so grateful for the Career Coach program for providing us with the experience of
visiting our state capitol,” Burns said. “It was a great opportunity to meet
Representative Deborah Ferguson, Senator Keith Ingram, and Governor Asa
Hutchinson…. It was interesting to see how things work in our state government
compared to the federal government which we learn about in our AP Government
class.”
“When
asked to partake in the opportunity…I was overjoyed yet nervous because what if
I forgot the message or gave it to the wrong person?” Haney said. “It was
exhilarating when the light for messages came on, and I got to take a message
to another Representative. All my fears of messing up were erased for the
Representatives are very understanding and will even help you out by telling
where the said person is seated.”
“My
trip to the capitol building was a very new experience for me,” Therenciel
said. “I was very shocked at just how fun and exciting politics can be. I used
to think that politics was surrounded by a very stiff and serious environment,
but this trip has enlightened me. Yes these men and women are discussing
serious topics, but they are real people who are not only very kind and
inviting, but also who are filled with the American spirit to help make our
nation the best it can be for everyone’s benefit.”
Opportunities
like the one coordinated by Cortez and made possible by the Career Coach
program are priceless in the lives and futures of the young people of
Crittenden and surrounding counties. Learning about governmental processes in
the classroom is helpful and needful, but actually participating in the process
allows students to make a tangible connection to what they’re hearing and
reading. Too many times in today’s educational system we’re failing to
establish that real-world correlation.
The
Career Coach program is another powerful tool in helping us support classroom
achievement and long-term goal attainment while providing employment-relevant
learning opportunities. Part of the Arkansas Works initiative, the program
focuses on Arkansas counties with the highest unemployment and poverty rates
and the lowest college-going rate. Career Coaches don’t operate in silos; they
work to complement and enhance college and career planning efforts of public
schools. Extended career guidance services can prepare students for a more
successful college experience and career by helping them set and achieve
realistic goals and develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in
the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Mid-South
Community College employs two Career Coaches – Washington and Isaac McBride –
and is in the process of hiring a third. Washington is based at West Junior
High School and works with 289 students in the eighth and ninth grades. McBride
is assigned to Wonder Junior High and serves 282 students. With assistance from
their MSCC supervisor Cynthia Quarrels, Coordinator for Workforce Counseling,
Washington and McBride are also helping at East Junior High (212 students)
until another Career Coach can be added. The Coaches, who are required to earn
and maintain Career Development Facilitator certification, also work with about
1,200 sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the high school.
Investments
in the Career Coach program have been significant, but the long-term results
will be even more so. With the ultimate goal of guiding students toward
employment sufficient to allow them to support themselves and their and
families, this program is worth every penny expended on it.
Thanks
to the special efforts of Mid-South Community College Career Coach
Cortez Washington, two MSCC concurrent-enrollment/Academies of West
Memphis students and one AWM student spent a day helping state lawmakers
with their legislative duties.
On Feb. 10, Washington transported Mid-South students Kelsi Burns (taking three classes at MSCC) and Anna Beth Haney (taking two college classes), as well as Academies student Sabina Therenciel, to Little Rock to participate in the 90th General Assembly of the Arkansas State Legislature. The young women enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I’m so grateful for the Career Coach program for providing us with the experience of visiting our state capitol,” Burns said. “It was a great opportunity to meet Representative Deborah Ferguson, Senator Keith Ingram, and Governor Asa Hutchinson…. It was interesting to see how things work in our state government compared to the federal government which we learn about in our AP Government class.”
“When asked to partake in the opportunity…I was overjoyed yet nervous because what if I forgot the message or gave it to the wrong person?” Haney said. “It was exhilarating when the light for messages came on, and I got to take a message to another Representative. All my fears of messing up were erased for the Representatives are very understanding and will even help you out by telling where the said person is seated.”
“My trip to the capitol building was a very new experience for me,” Therenciel said. “I was very shocked at just how fun and exciting politics can be. I used to think that politics was surrounded by a very stiff and serious environment, but this trip has enlightened me. Yes these men and women are discussing serious topics, but they are real people who are not only very kind and inviting, but also who are filled with the American spirit to help make our nation the best it can be for everyone’s benefit.”
Opportunities like the one coordinated by Cortez and made possible by the Career Coach program are priceless in the lives and futures of the young people of Crittenden and surrounding counties. Learning about governmental processes in the classroom is helpful and needful, but actually participating in the process allows students to make a tangible connection to what they’re hearing and reading. Too many times in today’s educational system we’re failing to establish that real-world correlation.
The Career Coach program is another powerful tool in helping us support classroom achievement and long-term goal attainment while providing employment-relevant learning opportunities. Part of the Arkansas Works initiative, the program focuses on Arkansas counties with the highest unemployment and poverty rates and the lowest college-going rate. Career Coaches don’t operate in silos; they work to complement and enhance college and career planning efforts of public schools. Extended career guidance services can prepare students for a more successful college experience and career by helping them set and achieve realistic goals and develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Mid-South Community College employs two Career Coaches – Washington and Isaac McBride – and is in the process of hiring a third. Washington is based at West Junior High School and works with 289 students in the eighth and ninth grades. McBride is assigned to Wonder Junior High and serves 282 students. With assistance from their MSCC supervisor Cynthia Quarrels, Coordinator for Workforce Counseling, Washington and McBride are also helping at East Junior High (212 students) until another Career Coach can be added. The Coaches, who are required to earn and maintain Career Development Facilitator certification, also work with about 1,200 sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the high school.
Investments in the Career Coach program have been significant, but the long-term results will be even more so. With the ultimate goal of guiding students toward employment sufficient to allow them to support themselves and their and families, this program is worth every penny expended on it.
On Feb. 10, Washington transported Mid-South students Kelsi Burns (taking three classes at MSCC) and Anna Beth Haney (taking two college classes), as well as Academies student Sabina Therenciel, to Little Rock to participate in the 90th General Assembly of the Arkansas State Legislature. The young women enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I’m so grateful for the Career Coach program for providing us with the experience of visiting our state capitol,” Burns said. “It was a great opportunity to meet Representative Deborah Ferguson, Senator Keith Ingram, and Governor Asa Hutchinson…. It was interesting to see how things work in our state government compared to the federal government which we learn about in our AP Government class.”
“When asked to partake in the opportunity…I was overjoyed yet nervous because what if I forgot the message or gave it to the wrong person?” Haney said. “It was exhilarating when the light for messages came on, and I got to take a message to another Representative. All my fears of messing up were erased for the Representatives are very understanding and will even help you out by telling where the said person is seated.”
“My trip to the capitol building was a very new experience for me,” Therenciel said. “I was very shocked at just how fun and exciting politics can be. I used to think that politics was surrounded by a very stiff and serious environment, but this trip has enlightened me. Yes these men and women are discussing serious topics, but they are real people who are not only very kind and inviting, but also who are filled with the American spirit to help make our nation the best it can be for everyone’s benefit.”
Opportunities like the one coordinated by Cortez and made possible by the Career Coach program are priceless in the lives and futures of the young people of Crittenden and surrounding counties. Learning about governmental processes in the classroom is helpful and needful, but actually participating in the process allows students to make a tangible connection to what they’re hearing and reading. Too many times in today’s educational system we’re failing to establish that real-world correlation.
The Career Coach program is another powerful tool in helping us support classroom achievement and long-term goal attainment while providing employment-relevant learning opportunities. Part of the Arkansas Works initiative, the program focuses on Arkansas counties with the highest unemployment and poverty rates and the lowest college-going rate. Career Coaches don’t operate in silos; they work to complement and enhance college and career planning efforts of public schools. Extended career guidance services can prepare students for a more successful college experience and career by helping them set and achieve realistic goals and develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Mid-South Community College employs two Career Coaches – Washington and Isaac McBride – and is in the process of hiring a third. Washington is based at West Junior High School and works with 289 students in the eighth and ninth grades. McBride is assigned to Wonder Junior High and serves 282 students. With assistance from their MSCC supervisor Cynthia Quarrels, Coordinator for Workforce Counseling, Washington and McBride are also helping at East Junior High (212 students) until another Career Coach can be added. The Coaches, who are required to earn and maintain Career Development Facilitator certification, also work with about 1,200 sophomores, juniors, and seniors at the high school.
Investments in the Career Coach program have been significant, but the long-term results will be even more so. With the ultimate goal of guiding students toward employment sufficient to allow them to support themselves and their and families, this program is worth every penny expended on it.
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