For some, early adulthood is a time of discovery. They graduate from high school and may go to college, changing majors as they narrow down their future path. Or they spend a year or more exploring career options before choosing one.
Others know what they want from an early age and begin working toward their goals as soon as they can, many of them starting in high school.
They are becoming STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes). Through career-technical schools, these high school students can gain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need for success in their chosen path.
Real-World Learning, Real-World Results
Career-technical schools across the region offer relevant and comprehensive training in dozens of career fields. Students typically choose to attend a campus in their community during their final two years of high school and graduate with certifications and advanced skills.
Great Oaks Career Campuses, one of the largest public career-technical school districts in the country, offers STAR opportunities for students in southwest Ohio. This includes training and education in information technology, dental assisting, manufacturing engineering, surgical sterile processing, construction, automotive and EV technology, aviation maintenance, exercise science and sports medicine, digital arts and design, equine and livestock management, and more. High school students learn in state-of-the-art labs and under conditions that replicate those they’ll be working in, using the same technology and equipment that professionals are using. For instance, culinary arts students work in commercial kitchens; heavy equipment operations students train with laser-guided survey tools; veterinary assisting students observe surgical procedures performed by local veterinarians in on-campus surgical suites, and firefighting students spend their days at a fire training center also used by numerous local fire departments.
Powered by Industry Partnerships
The real-world links don’t end with the facilities and equipment. It’s the connection to local business and industry that makes these programs valuable for both students and future employers. Instructors are current and former industry professionals, and every program is guided by a business and industry advisory committee (BIAC).
BIACs are involved in nearly every aspect of career-technical education. They keep the instructor informed about changes and advances in the industry, they provide expertise in approving curriculum and choosing equipment and technology, and they help the school district understand future directions for the career field.
As importantly, they help provide mentorship, internships, and even employment for students in the program.
Seniors in most career-technical programs have the opportunity to work in their field during the school day. This gives them experience and a paycheck. In fact, hundreds of Great Oaks students work in their chosen field as seniors each year.
When they graduate, they have certifications or licenses needed to work in their professions, further demonstrating their level of preparedness and accomplishment. With certifications in hand, they are immediately qualified to work in operating rooms, job sites, industrial labs, childcare centers, advanced manufacturing plants, digital design studios, and wherever they find the next step on their career journey.
STARs Matter to Employers
Those graduates are important to local employers, according to “Gen Z in the Workforce in the Cincinnati Region,” a report of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “STARs are an essential cohort within our workforce, and it is critical that employers recognize and address their unique needs and perspectives. Understanding the values of Gen Z who are STARs is vital to attract, engage, and advanced workers in a variety of roles across the region.”
And there’s evidence that local employers are recognizing their journey. As more employers become aware of the motivation that these high school students have along with the experience, knowledge, and skills gained from a career-technical high school like Great Oaks—and the work that these students have put into their own success—being a STAR often becomes a deciding factor in the hiring process.
By: Jon Weidlich
Great Oaks Career Campuses
