“OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS”

Career & Technical Education

Federal Way Public Schools

33330 8th Ave South

Federal Way, WA 98003

www.fwps.org

Federal Way High School 9th grade students become “Stars” when they complete their career project and attend a

motivational assembly. Students are encouraged to take opportunities seriously and prepare now for their future.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

SPOTLIGHTING PROGRAMS IN CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

K

King County Workforce Development Funds Provide Opportunity

For 9th Grade Students

To Explore and Inspire Career and College Plans

When you are in 9th grade it is difficult to

understand how important your current choices are.

Federal Way Public Schools has a target

vision that all students will graduate and will be

prepared to take the next step to college or career.

With this in mind, the Career and Technical

Education Department wrote and was awarded a

grant to help motivate and inspire 9th graders to

catch a vision of what their future could be.

Teams from each high school were created that

included two teachers and the Career and College

Specialists. The teams met together district-wide

and determined specific outcomes for their students.

They were also trained on a software

program called “Career Cruising.”

Each 9th grade student participating created

an electronic portfolio which includes a parent

portal for their input. This portfolio will follow

them throughout their high school experience and

can be used to store all the components of the stu-

dents 13th Year Plan.

Students also were engaged in a variety of activities

including career interest assessments and career research.

Each school had a special kickoff or culminating activity

event.

Over 1600 district students coming from each high school

and TAFA, began planning for their futures as they took

part in this curriculum to help them to visualize what their

future might look like.

As our students learn and plan for their future it helps

them to understand what it takes to get through high

school prepared to enter college or the workforce.

Our plan is to expand this work to 10th grade students

next year and expand their exploration in the remaining

years of high school. We hope to include many basic ca-

reer and college prep skills like: Building a resume, ap-

plying for jobs, preparing college and scholarship applica-

tions, and job interviewing.

This Issue: King County Workforce

Development provides funding

for Career Exploration for 9th

grade students in FWPS.

Career Education Pays Off Now

And In The Future As one student put it “You gave us an education on why we

need education.” Most often students are uninformed and un-

realistic about their futures. Career Exploration provides stu-

dents with the opportunity to examine occupations and learn

about the variety of jobs available. Many times these activities

expose young people to careers they didn’t even know existed.

Career Exploration now will save students and their families

time and money. It is important to help our students match

their career interests with their abilities. As students mature

their interests may change, so it is helpful to update and evalu-

ate their plan each year in high school.

Employers are looking for employees with essential “soft

skills” such as: problem solving/decision making, creative

thinking skills, team work/interpersonal/social skills, technical

skills, responsibility, initiative, and reliability. In CTE these are

all 21st Century Skills which are taught throughout our pro-

grams. Projects completed are often resume building for cur-

rent or future employment.

Our economy has certainly changed the work opportunities for

our young people. There are many graduates from four-year

institutions that have been labeled with a dilemma called the

“Harvard Barista.” These are students with first class educa-

tions that can’t find employment in their fields and are surviv-

ing by taking low wage jobs and to pay college loans. Mean-

while, they are bumping those with only a high school gradua-

tion into the unemployment category.

It makes sense financially from an employability perspective to

prepare our students with as many skills as we can before they

enter college or the work force.

Career and Technical Education courses in high school, which

are FREE often offer college credit, and may help students

earn money while attending college or provide career certifica-

tions for jobs after high school. They may even help students

pay off those student loans while they are seeking employ-

ment! Additionally, there are courses that offer dual credit

(high school and college) which will make the amount of time

spent in college shorter and less costly. Some of these courses

pre-qualify students to be eligible for scholarship applications

or increase a student’s ability to be accepted in a college pro-

gram.

A listing of courses offered in the district at Middle School and

High School is on the next page with some of the skills and

benefits they provide to our students.

District Career and College Specialists

gather for a photo op with “Mama Drill”

inspirational speaker at Todd Beamer As-

sembly. Left to Right: Debbie Washing-

ton, Mama Drill, Fonda Mongrain, and

Renee Novak.

Tom Decker, Project Coordinator at Tho-

mas Jefferson works with students to discuss

their plans.

Program/Secondary School Skills Learned College Credit/Career

Certifications/Benefits Pre-Engineering-DEC,TB HS

Gateway to Technology-SEQ, SAG, NAU- MS

Intro to Engineering, Principals of Engineering, Aero-space Engineering, Engineering Design and Development Intro to the design process, automation, robotics, and

Computer Assisted Design

Project Lead The Way Engineering, Preparation for Engi-neering Programs in College, Possible increased eligibility for scholarships Preparation for entering Pre-Engineering courses at HS

Robotics-TJ, FW Kilo, SAC MS

Build and Program Robots, problem solving, critical thinking

Preparation for careers in fields using robotics

Computer Programming-TB Programming Basics and AP Level Programming, Math AP Computer Science Testing, possible math credit

IT Academy-All HS Utilizing and Becoming Proficient in Microsoft Software Applications, Student Leadership

Free testing Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Testing, Skills required in most occupations

Automotive-DEC Automotive Repair and Maintenance, Student Leadership Industry Certifications and Career Ready, NATEF Certi-fication, Testing for other certifications as well are of-

fered

Forensic Science-TJ, TB, FW Application of scientific principles to analysis of physi-cal, biological, and trace evidence, as well as investigative

and documentary skills in crime scenes.

Provides a baseline experience for students interested in pursuing careers in crime scene investigation as well as

presenting different options for careers involved in the

analysis of crime scene evidence.

American Sign Language Interpretation-TB, FW, DEC ASL Interpretation-Levels 1,2,3 Learn ASL

Some articulations with Seattle Central Community Col-lege for Credit, work as an interpreter

Composite Manufacturing-TB Making composite materials and using them in student projects

Entry level skills to corporations using composites, possi-ble opportunities for advancement in college composite

programs

Teaching Academy, FW,TB

Child Development, Early Childhood Programs, Family

Health, Family Psychology –ALL

Nutrition and Wellness, Culinary Arts

Visual Communications-All High Schools

AP Visual Arts

Graphic Design, Photography, & Videography learn and apply industry-standard production tools and

software techniques (Adobe Creative Suite). Apply crea-

tive and production processes.

Entry skills in the field (i.e. production artist or produc-tion assistant) Photographer, work in business, AP Test-

ing

Construction/Shop TJ, FW Hands on building, cabinet making, woodworking, con-struction skills, student leadership

Entry level skills, building, and home repair, Union labor work, Pursue University Construction Mgmt. Degree

JROTC-TB, FW Student Leadership, Organization, Aerospace, Cyber Security, Fitness, Time Management, Aviation Ground

School, Financial Mgmt, Practical Skills, Career Search-

ing, Written and Oral Communication

Possible Scholarships to Military Academy, Military Training, Enlistment Advantages, Early Rank Advance-

ments, Academy Nominations

Sports Medicine-DEC

Anatomy & Athletic Training Skills, Medical Terminology

Preparation for careers in Medical Careers such as Ath-letic Trainer and Physical Therapy

Emergency Response-TJ Advanced Rescue and Response Skills, Student Leader-

ship, Preparation for careers in EMT , Firefighting, Medical

Careers

Business and Marketing-All High Schools Kilo, SAG, SAC-MS

Accounting, Computer Skills, Web Design, Marketing, Retail Sales Skills, Personal Finance, Student Leadership

Articulations with area colleges for credit, Entry level skills for some careers, Experience in store operations

Horticulture-DEC Cooperative work environment, leadership skill set, or-ganizational skills, time management, responsibility to the

program and other team members, scientific principles,

application and implementation, and problem solving abilities.

Skills in horticulture such as growth and care of plants/

flowers, Working in the business of plant production and

floral arrangement

Education and Training for profession of teaching

Knowledge and skills of Child Development, Child

Care

Health and well being, healthy relationships

Nutrition education and Culinary art skills

Training for a career in teaching, possible college credit STAR Certification-WA Child Care

Nutritional study for a variety of careers including medi-cal, cooking and culinary skills

Personal knowledge of nutrition and meal preparation for healthy eating