Leadership Initiative Inspires Better Career Development Process for Oakland Schools

by Beth Garlock, Career Outreach District Coordinator, Oakland Schools

Guiding students to make informed career preparation decisions, developing related skills and knowledge, and preparing them to be successful in a competitive global economy summarizes the aims of Oakland Schools’ Career-Focused Education (CFE) program.

The CFE program was formed after data showed that all 28 districts within Oakland Schools had career development plans that were slightly different and at various points of implementation. A subsequent look at successful career development programs around the country revealed a common theme: each had a written career development plan integrated throughout all schools, grade levels, and subject areas.

As defined, career development is a process of lifelong learning to seek and use information that makes coursework meaningful for students. It generally includes five components: self-awareness, career awareness and exploration, decision-making, planning, and documentation.

Career Development Framework, the district’s first step toward a better career development process, is a document designed to provide schools with a structure to develop and implement a written career development system for embedding into the curriculum. Embedding this system into classroom instruction helps students understand the relevance of what they learn in high school by connecting studies to real-world applications. The framework was created to provide the elements, resources, and activities that are components of a successful career development system.

Two previously established groups within Oakland Schools lead the program: the Career Development team and the County as a Classroom team. The Career Development team coordinates countywide career preparation initiatives and oversees state and federal funding in Oakland County for Career and Technical Education (CTE). The County as a Classroom team provides a systemic approach to aligning, balancing, and improving county career development and CTE programs to meet educational and career interests for Oakland County students. These leadership teams work to help students meet the new Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements by aligning CTE curriculum with academic content standards, while providing academic rigor to increase student learning and achievement

The CFE program has direct responsibility for governing and operating the technical campuses of four schools in Oakland County. The program promotes continuous improvement through quality initiatives, aligns curriculum and instruction within Career Pathways (see page 30), and coordinates career development initiatives across the 28 Oakland County school districts.

The creation and implementation of a career development system—a plan integrated throughout all schools, grade levels, and subject areas—benefits local schools, staff, and students, as well as the community at large. These benefits include the following:

• Supports state and federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), Education YES!, the Michigan Career Pathways and National Career Clusters, and the Michigan Comprehensive Guidance Model.
• Improves student achievement rates.
• Reduces student behavior problems as students find their talents, are inspired, and are supported in the focus area of their choice.
• Supports community partnerships that identify with the world of work outside of school.
• Involves parents as partners in their child’s choices with written commitment and open communication with their child’s school.

Data collection is an integral part of Oakland School’s CFE program. School leaders use data to make informed decisions that promote student learning and achievement. Information is gathered through local district feedback and ACT® assessment instrument data, along with contracted consultation and training services. Consulting services provide coaching and modeling for school districts to support learning theory (especially in CTE curriculum development), CTE common assessment development, and comprehensive guidance and counseling programs.

An important aspect of a successful career development plan is the use of an educational development plan (EDP). The EDP documents the ongoing process in which a learner identifies both career goals and a plan of action to achieve those goals. The purpose of the EDP is to provide every student with a periodically updated and ongoing record of career planning that will guide the student in taking effective steps to enter a career of choice. The EDP records offer documented evidence of student gains as his or her abilities, aptitudes, and interests are assessed. It also offers opportunities for researching careers and matching discoveries within a group of careers.

Finally, CFE teams strive to create an effective form of shared leadership by implementing ways to collaborate with local districts. Collaboration takes place using an Education Advisory Group, developing local and regional career development plans, and making use of a regional technical campus community.

The expected outcome of Oakland Schools’ CFE efforts, as well as other related leadership initiatives, is a comprehensive career development system for all students to promote career awareness and planning, decision making skills and improved learning, and academic achievement. This program helps Oakland Schools provide academic and career competency to successfully transition students into further education, training, or employment for the future.

For more information, contact: Beth Garlock, M.A., L.L.P.C., Career Outreach District Coordinator, Oakland Schools, (248) 209-2099, beth.garlock@oakland.k12.mi.us or Deborah Taylor, Team Leader, Career Focused Education, (248) 209-2433, deborah.taylor@oakland.k12.mi.us or visit www.oakland.k12.mi.us/cfe.