BVA counselor discusses school-to-work bridge at chamber event
Holly Tonini
Belle Vernon Area guidance counselor Stephanie McHugh speaks to members of the Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce during a luncheon Tuesday.
Holly Tonini
Jamie Protin talks about mentoring Belle Vernon Area High School senior David Legg (seated), who plans on going to school to study engineering.
According to state Department of Education, more than three in five Pennsylvania students attend college, but too often, they enter into their higher education without a well-thought out career path.
That’s why officials in the Belle Vernon Area School District are helping students identify their skills and abilities and the bridging the school-to-work divide.
Dr. Stephanie A. McHugh, director of counseling services, discussed how the district is helping students shape their career choices during a presentation at a Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Tuesday. The district recognizes the relevancy between curriculum and the world of work, she said.
McHugh said the district curriculum and its focus is based on connecting students with the careers that best fit their interests, abilities and work-related values.
McHugh used the metaphor of a tree to discuss career pathways. The “roots” are the course selections, from the basics like reading, English and math for example, to electives.
The “trunk” is global competency or soft skills, from speaking in public and communications skills to leadership, work ethic and personal and civic responsibilities.
The “leaves” are 16 career clusters as adapted from the National Association of State Directors of Career Technology Education Consortium’s National Career Clusters Framework.
“When we talk with kids and parents about setting goals, it isn’t about them deciding what do you want to do with the next 40 years of their life. The goal is for them to see a system and connect within the system,” McHugh said. “When we talk students’ career choices, we talk with them about likes, what they are good at and what their work-based values are. Some people value helping people, some people value making money, some people value travel. These values will shape what the students want to do and where they want to do it.”
McHugh said the district starts these conversations when students are in elementary school.
She then encouraged business leaders to become involved.
McHugh invited them to attend the senior project presentations, 8 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Belle Vernon Area High School. The seniors make presentations of up to 20 minutes on their work shadowing project.
She also encouraged business leaders to consider becoming a part of a mentorship program, which includes job shadowing and professional mentorship.
“This program allows students to take a tentative dive into the water, not just stick a toe in the water,” McHugh said. “They get to hear from employers, not just teachers, about the real world of work.”
Jamie Proton of Mackin Engineering has served as a mentor for senior David Legg, who is planning to study engineering at West Virginia University.
An engineer for 35 years, Protin said he sees the need promote technology education and associate degree programs.
“We need to plant the seeds in middle school,” Protin said. “That’s where the next level of engineers and technology workers are.”