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Career Exploration

To maintain a thriving economy, students need to be prepared for high-demand, well-paying jobs. This series looks at how schools are preparing students for the future workforce.

A career in auto repair? For some students, it starts in high school

Podcasts Charles Honey

A Grandville High School teacher and student discuss the “motor skills” learned and career options opened by classes in automotive maintenance as well as in other career and technical education programs.

Tech Center program heats up student interest in skilled trades

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

From classroom to career, Kent Career Tech Center’s HVACR program is filling a high-demand need in the heating and cooling field.

Partnership expands CTE programs to local districts

Byron Center Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

To meet its goal of 10,000 students in career and technical education classes by 2030, Kent ISD partnered with local districts to bring these programs to students in their own high schools.

Tech Center students construct pole barn

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The process of constructing a pole barn gives the Tech Center’s advanced construction students life skills and experience.

Initiative aims to double enrollment in career & technical education by 2030

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

An ambitious county-wide initiative aims to increase the number of students taking classes that teach them career skills and prepare them for the workforce.

Teacher Academy students design their future classrooms

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

First-year Teacher Academy students designed classrooms with a focus on the developmental needs of their students.

Opportunities abound at first in-house career fair

Kelloggsville Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Seeing an increased interest in job site tours, Kelloggsville hosted its first career fair at the high school.

Health care leaders ask students for ideas, solutions

Kentwood Erin Albanese

Sixteen students are helping leading scientists and researchers solve problems at an advanced cancer treatment center in Grand Rapids.

The full package: Girls get behind-the-scenes look at manufacturing

Grandville Brett Atwood

Grandville High School students toured Amway as the culmination of a Women in Manufacturing series.

‘Career readiness starts in kindergarten,’ and young Knights are on their way

Kenowa Hills Alexis Stark

Zinser Elementary’s first career fair allowed students to explore different career paths with help from local professionals.

Career options soar with high school’s new aeronautics program

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Grandville High School launched a brand-new aeronautics program this year, a two-semester class that teaches the basics of aviation and so much more.

Career Focus gives students opportunity to explore pathways

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The new program allows students to learn about and get some hands-on experience in different work fields.

New CNA course offers hands-on look at health care career

Kelloggsville Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Meeting the health care interest of their students, Kelloggsville now offers a certified nursing assistant course.

Future health care pros sample multiple career focuses

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The recent event was part of Kent ISD’s Career and Talent Development initiative focused on increasing career exploration, training and work-based learning opportunities for students throughout the region.

Educators and business leaders team up to help build school-to-work pipeline

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kent County educators and business leaders explore how to make students more aware of possible careers and connect them to job opportunities.

Career makers at work

Kelloggsville Brett Atwood

Students are learning skills and trades preparing them for the workforce and future careers through Kelloggsville’s school-to-work program

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School News Network reports on the 20 public school districts in Kent ISD, which enroll more than 102,000 students. Founded in 2013 as an initiative of Kent ISD, we are supported by local districts and community sponsors, and powered by an experienced team of reporters, editors and multimedia journalists. We specialize in covering classroom teaching and learning, analyzing the many issues facing students and highlighting the education magic that happens each day in our public schools.

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