SCOE’s Career Development/Workforce Preparation department brings students, teachers, and employers together to strengthen and develop the relationship between what’s being taught in the classroom and its application in the workplace.

The department offers Career Technical Education (CTE) courses for high school students through its Regional Occupational Program, supports the development of high school career pathways across Sonoma County, facilitates the countywide Work Ready Certification program, assists schools with vocational counseling and job placement services, enhances career exploration efforts in middle school, and connects schools to local workforce development efforts.

Career Pathways, 2010-11: This publication describes high school career pathways in Sonoma County and lists pathway programs by school. It is available for download in English (pdf) and Spanish (pdf).

News

Over 19,000 students gain access to online
career exploration, planning and education tool
Thanks to a combination of grant funding, donations from local businesses and individuals, and support from SCOE’s Career Development/Workforce Preparation department, over 19,000 middle and high school students in 39 schools and community-based organizations are receiving lifetime accounts to the interactive Web-based Kuder Career Planning System. This system utilizes today’s technology to create a powerful connection between education and the changing needs of the 21st century workforce. Students will use the system to explore career and education options, make educational plans, and build electronic portfolios.

SCOE launches Kuder Adopt-a-School campaign
Following the successful pilot of the Kuder Career Planning System in 15 Sonoma County schools last year, SCOE is launching an Adopt-a-School Campaign to expand access to this online career and academic planning tool to all interested middle schools, high schools, and youth-serving organizations. Based on the number of young people served at each site, sponsorships range from $100 to $2,000.

To find out how to sponsor a school or how your school or organization can be included, contact Dan Blake, (707) 524-2780 or dblake@scoe.org.

Department partners on summer youth employment initiative
This year, the Sonoma County Summer Youth Ecology Corps/Summer Jobs Program is providing nearly 300 young people with paid employment on conservation-related projects. Funded by the American Recovery and Investment Act, this program is the result of a partnership involving the Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board’s Youth Council, Sonoma County Water Agency, Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE), and a number of governmental and private non-profit organizations. The program was recently featured on ABC-7 News (see video).

SCOE’s Career Development/Workforce Preparation department is actively supporting this initiative. The department’s Work-Ready Certification program is being used as the primary performance measure for all youth participating in the program. Participants who want to obtain a Work-Ready Certificate, which verifies their work preparedness skills for future employers, can do so with assistance from SCOE staff. As an educational enhancement to the program, we are also providing all participants with access to the Kuder Career Planning System, an interactive career assessment, exploration, planning, and education tool.

Career Technical Education Conference – November 7, 2009
Each year, SCOE hosts the Career Technical Education Conference to focus on how the demands of our world and what’s required for success are changing. Through keynote speeches and breakout sessions, educators and industry representatives have an opportunity to explore the new academic, technological, and workplace skills students need to succeed and discuss strategies for incorporating those skills into the curriculum. The next conference is set for Saturday, November 7, 2009 at the Sonoma County Office of Education. Learn more ...

Middle School Career Exploration Symposium – November 17, 2009
The third annual Middle School Career Exploration Symposium will take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2009. Past symposiums have been an excellent opportunity for teachers, counselors, board members, and administrators to hear about and share promising practices that infuse career awareness and exploration activities into the middle school curriculum. Cost for the event is $25 and lunch is included. Limited funding is available for substitutes. Register online or contact Dan Blake at (707) 524-2780 or dblake@scoe.org for more information.

New funding expands Middle School Project in 2009-10
After successfully expanding the Sonoma County Middle School Career Exploration Project from five to ten schools in 2008-09, new funding has been received to add three additional schools to this program. Creekside and Mountain Shadows, two middle schools in Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified, and Kenilworth Junior High School in Petaluma were selected after submitting applications outlining their commitment to develop a career exploration program for students at their respective sites.