Career Pathways Newsletter

Career Pathways Highlights

Summer celebrations

Six WBLAHS Students graduated from MN Trades Academy this year.  Congratulations to Brandon Ehlers, Lukas Kavaloski, Lucas Mann,  Kyle Reaney, Joseph Schrankler, and Max Schultz! And thank you to WBL Construction Career Pathway Teacher, Dan Rossiter for mentoring and running the MTA program for 12 interns. MTA is a paid, summer construction internship experience for selected Twin Cities area high school youth. The goal is to help youth prepare for adulthood through life-long learning, skill development, and access to good jobs with good benefits in the construction industry.  In other fun Career Pathways news, our famous Gen Z Connections program is featured in Autobody News, with 11 students successfully participating in the opportunity this summer. 

Thank you to the 140+ people who attended the annual Employer Breakfast at White Bear Country Inn. A variety of local employers, organizations, industry partners, post-secondary institutions, students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the event. The annual event celebrates the past school year and provides our industry partners with a Menu of Options to select how they want to help support WBL Career Pathways during the school year. Thank you to Bill Foussard and his team from Rudy's Redeye Grill and White Bear Country Inn for hosting the event. Thank you to White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the breakfast items. And thank you to everyone for working together to shape the future!

Congratulations to 3 WBLAHS Teachers for successfully completing Teacher Externships this summer. Katie Marsh worked with the HealthPartners Clinic in White Bear Lake; Colleen Cameron worked with Press Publications; and Seth Salenger worked with CHIPS Computer Services. All teachers and employers collaborated, shared, and learned what happens in the classroom, as well as, the work site. The program is run by the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business Education Network. Marsh, Cameron, and Salenger were recognized by the Chamber for their amazing work in the community.  Go Bears!

Exciting  district updates

We are excited to welcome students back for the 2019-20 school year. More than 1,000 staff members recently were welcomed back at the 2019 Convocation event - Building Our Future. At the event, staff members enjoyed student performances, heard an inspirational message from Teacher of the Year Abby Kath, and received updates about district initiatives, including the bond referendum that will be voted on Nov. 5. Learn more about the referendum on the district's website.

Welcome Michael McGarthwaite! WBL Career Pathways has a new team member for the 2019-2020 school year. Michael is entering his fourth year at WBLAHS - South Campus as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator, and this year he will be adding a role in the Career Pathways program as a Career Navigator. As a Work-Based Learning Coordinator, he assists students receiving special education services in developing job skills, gaining work experience in the community, exploring careers, and seeking competitive employment. Michael has collaborated extensively with WBL Career Pathways in recent years, and in his additional role as a Career Navigator he looks forward to connecting even more students with the exciting opportunities the programs have to offer.

Career Pathways Expo

WBL Career Pathways Expo registration is officially open. The annual event will be on Wednesday, November 13 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at WBLAHS - South Campus. Lots of new changes, events, opportunities, and fun will be happening! Spots are filling up fast! To learn more and to register, click HERE.