July, 2020
Career Pathways Newsletter
July, 2020
Looking to the Past to Embrace the Future
The 2019-20 school year was one for the books. By the numbers, we hosted a sold out crowd for our annual Employer Breakfast, visited over 100 classrooms, and welcomed over 600 people to the annual WBL Career Pathways Expo. An estimated 450 students participated in additional field trips, we received over $50,000 in additional grant money, and hosted the inaugural Mock Interview Project for over 250 10th grade students and 55 local Industry Partners. Additionally, our work was acknowledged by Governor Tim Walz and we were featured on MN Public Radio with Angela Davis. To date, over 50 students have become CNAs since the beginning of the MN DLI’s Youth Skills Training Grant. Paid internships, new industry recognized credentials, and meaningful work experiences happened throughout the year.
And just like that, WBLAS and WBL Career Pathways are busy preparing for the 2020-21 school year. We officially welcome Dr. Alison Gillespie as the new Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning. Gillespie has served in the district since 2017, serving for two years as the WBLAHS - North Campus Principal before most recently acting in a role of Principal on Special Assignment. During the 2019-20 school year, she oversaw projects related to the district’s strategic plan, our equity work, and the “Future of Learning” component of the facilities process.
Gillespie says, “I look forward to continuing to build upon the strong foundation in our Career Pathways program in my new role and as we navigate the exciting opportunity of merging our high school campuses into one WBLAHS. Career Pathways and the opportunities that are provided to our students through this innovative and critical program are essential to ensuring that WBLAS meets our goals around student preparedness and success in both career and college after graduation. It is a true honor to be able to partner with Jenny Moore and our industry partners in this work! Go Bears!" For the full article on Dr. Gillespie, click HERE.
2020 Grads Honored in Parade
On Friday, June 5, WBLAS faculty and staff lined up to send the 2020 Graduates off to their next phase in life. On behalf of WBL Career Pathways, WBLAS, and all the local community - best of luck on your next adventures!
WBL Career Pathways sponsors MN Trades Academy Interns
We are excited to donate money to the 2020 MN Trades Academy (MTA) program this summer. Like many opportunities, MTA also looks different this year. The number of interns dramatically decreased this summer, however 7 WBLAHS students were hired! MTA Team Leader and WBLAHS Teacher, Dan Rossiter will lead a group of 15 interns starting July 6. All experiences will be at WBLAHS - North Campus this year. As a result, WBL Career Pathways is helping support the 2020 program as they begin the exciting work of building a shed or tiny home to build in a service-learning component. Union training centers and reps will come to the students this year as they embark on an internship like never before. Congrats to the 2020 Interns: Griffin Guttormson, Lukas Kavaloski, Nick Lahlum, Abigail Lillo, Justin Olson, Joseph Schrankler and Jeremy Zuniga!
Thank you to:
- Greater Twin Cities United Way (GTCUW) for the Career Academies Grant opportunity! Thanks to you we will be able to add a Mental Health First Aid Certificate to our Health & Wellness Career Pathway. We also plan to create and implement a Mentoring Program for middle- and high-school students.
- MN Department of Labor & Industry for the $95,000 Youth Skills Training (YST) Grant which helped WBL Career Pathways create and sustain a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Lab at WBLAHS - South Campus. To date, over 50 students have become CNAs!
Congratulations to:
- our newest Firefly Computers Inc. Interns: Caden Anderson, Tommy Anderson, Blake Engrav, Julian Hall, and Joey Schulte.
- the 10 students in the College in the Schools Manufacturing & Applied Engineering II Course who recently took the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) Manufacturing Process and Production Assessment. This industry-recognized credential provides the core competencies and basic technical skills needed for manufacturing production workers and for material handlers in factories, warehouses, distribution centers, and transportation.
- Joshua Dery for becoming a CPT Certified Instructor for our Manufacturing & Engineering Pathway students. Way to go!