After spending 18 years as a teacher, I transitioned to a new profession in education with a focus on career exploration, career readiness and workforce development. I work with high school seniors throughout Fairfield County preparing them for opportunities in the local workforce following graduation. In partnership with businesses, school districts throughout Fairfield County and our local colleges and universities, I help to provide students with all the essentials tools they need for future success. I have helped to develop a Career Readiness Endorsement program in the county along with the Fairfield Educational Service Center and our Fairfield County Economic Workforce Development team. My ultimate goal is help graduates find a career they love after they graduate. As an educator, I have a passion for creating authentic relationships with the students I work with in order to facilitate their growth in knowledge, skills, attitude, confidence, and character. These, I believe, are all essential to help them fulfill their career goals as well as necessary to building the soft skills they need to develop lifelong success. Whether a student plans to attend a college training program or wants to go directly into the workforce after high school, it is essential they have the right tools to do so. I make it my mission to prepare them appropriately and effectively for those next steps. One of my latest projects in addition to the Career Readiness Endorsement has been the partnership with the Fairfield County Workforce Center, Ohio University-Lancaster, Hocking College and the development of Pre Apprenticeship programs. These are programs that prepare seniors for careers in the skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and areas related to healthcare. Students get the opportunity to begin the essential training and go to work while still in high school. This is very similar to a Career Technical program but ours are college focused and driven. Students come from all over the county to be a part of Pre Apprenticeship. In 2023, 54 students from local county school districts graduated from the Pre apprenticeships at the Workforce Center. In 2024 that number went up to 85 graduates. As the Career Navigator in charge of this endeavor, I assist in the recruitment process by traveling to the high schools to present the opportunities to our up and coming seniors. I facilitate the scheduling of Discovery Days for students to come and preview programs as well as help manage the application process and student success while in their program.
Listed skills include Curriculum Design, Nonprofits, Public Speaking, Strategic Planning, and 6 others.
