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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.

Kent ISD launches CareerPrep 2030 initiative

Career Exploration Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Leaders shared thoughts on how to connect students to potential careers, help grow the local business economy, and build a pipeline of local talent to help fill current and expected employment vacancies...

Growing the next generation of educators

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

By clearing a pathway to the field of education, the Teacher Academy has seen a growing interest among students...

Hands-on trades training before graduation

Career Exploration Alexis Stark

Crossroads Alternative High School students learn trade skills before graduation in welding and construction at Grand Rapids Community College’s Leslie E. Tassell M-TEC program...

A dose of reality

Cedar Springs Jane Lally

Middle school students learn about finances and budgeting in Reality Store class activities...

Ready for prime time

Grand Rapids Erin Albanese

Innovation Central students are receiving more tools, equipment and opportunities as an SME PRIME School...

Discovering the ‘why’ of career exploration

Northview Morgan Jarema

Grow MainStreet is helping the district — and middle-school students — connect many of the dots between today’s learning and career awareness...

New initiative aims to connect students with careers & schools with employers

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Kent ISD expands career exploration and work-based opportunities through its new Career and Talent Development initiative...

Kent Career Tech Center and Kent Transition Center to merge

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The Kent Career Tech Center and Kent Transition Center merger, planned for the 2023-24 school year, is aimed at giving students more opportunities for career exploration...

Hands-on learning means expanded skills

Kent ISD Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

The pilot course in a planned merger of KTC and Tech Center programs shows signs of broadening skills-based learning to a wider student population...

‘I can’t imagine doing anything else’

Northview Morgan Jarema

This Northview Next Career Center grad discovered a new passion his senior year and landed a good job right out of high school...

Engineering internship helps Tech Center student explore career

Caledonia Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

Isaac Clark never knew how complicated making a box could be until he landed an internship at Michigan Lasercut...

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Playing with fire

Grandville Brett Atwood

The high school’s auto tech students are preparing this car for a full restoration — and preparing for a great career at the same time...

Framing the Future

Godwin Heights Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

West Michigan Works! Construction Roadshow gives students an introduction to the construction field...

Coming clean with chemistry

Forest Hills Morgan Jarema

STEM Academy students are on their way to cleaning up as they make, market and sell soap...

GRPS works to create direct teacher pipeline

Grand Rapids Phil de Haan

GRPS was one of 44 districts across the state announced a year ago as part of the new program...

Career fair exposes students to some 40 employers looking to hire

Grandville Beth Heinen Bell

Breakout sessions featured panel discussions on resume-building, career pathway options, interviewing and more...

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School News NetworkA Window into Your Public Schools

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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.

Aspiring thespian helps younger students find joy in theater

‘It feels magical’: Student talks passion for film

She can’t wait to hear what her students are excited about today

For these two student leaders, it’s all about promoting cultural awareness

After-school club introduces elementary students to coding

Tech Center students construct pole barn

Second- & third-graders learn how things work by doing

Marshmallows & math make for a sweet multiplication lesson

District addresses needs of autism students with smaller classrooms

Podcast: Schools hearing concerns from families over federal deportation plans

Podcast: ‘Serious fun’ leads to serious success

What’s in store for federal education dollars?

Career Exploration

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