Macon County Schools leading PEAK Explorers
A collaboration between Southwestern Community College (SCC) and Macon County Schools (MCS) will deliver a new career readiness program to middle and high school students next year. The Professional Exploration and Knowledge (PEAK) Explorers program is a structured initiative to help students begin thinking about their career and college futures.
PEAK Explorers consists of a variety of activities to aid in self-discovery. Students will form an interest profile after a preliminary career assessment during seventh grade, bringing awareness to personal values and identifying strengths. In high school, a secondary assessment will be completed, allowing students to enroll in classes that focus on specific career pathways and the skills they’ve identified. The goal is to lead students to an informed decision about career pathways that can begin as early as 10th grade.
“If students don’t know their why, it’s hard to connect with the classes they’re taking,” said outgoing SCC Dean of Students, Cheryl Contino-Conner. “This program will begin fostering connections between students and college at a much younger age than previous generations by catering to their specific interests and providing resources to real-world examples.”
MCS personnel began training for Major Clarity, a one-stop interactive software for career readiness in accordance with the PEAK Explorers program. Major Clarity aligns students’ academic plans with career exploration, postsecondary planning, and work-based learning. Throughout middle and high school, faculty and staff will lead students in structured career-oriented conversations, considering future job outlook and time in school.
“The PEAK Explorers program is part of the exciting work happening in the Career and Technical Education area to better prepare students for life after high school,” said Jill VanOrder, Macon Early College liaison. “Our goal is to begin career assessments and related class activities with our students in January.”
Outside of the classroom, SCC offers a wealth of support to students through college and job fairs, roadshows and advising. SCC’s Macon campus hosted a job fair on Thursday, Oct. 6, and the Sylva campus will host Career Exploration Day on Friday, Nov. 4. Both events are geared toward high school students. Macon Middle School will also begin hosting Career Cafes, an opportunity for area businesses to talk to students about possible career paths. VanOrder has coordinated two Career Cafes with Mission Hospital for October.
Program organizers say there are also socioeconomic benefits. SCC is providing free connections to college courses in an area where not everyone has access to higher education. By connecting with the Southwestern Commission to identify how and where the gaps can be filled in our area, the pipeline of school to workforce can increase.
“We want students to understand the opportunities that exist here for them to start their careers,” said Contino-Conner.
For more information about PEAK Explorers or if your business is interested in offering a Career Cafe, contact Jill VanOrder at 828-524-2002.
