Aug. 30, 2024
New Hartford Senior High School students will take their learning outside of the classroom to explore career fields and learn critical employment skills as part of a new course offering this school year.
Nearly two dozen students are enrolled in Career Exploration, an elective course designed to expose students to several different professions through job shadowing opportunities. Open to students in grades 11 and 12, the class is set to launch in the spring semester.
The high school has partnered with more than 20 local businesses to offer students job shadowing placements in fields such as health, real estate, financial planning, business, insurance, and manufacturing.
During the semester-long course, students will select between three and five different career fields to explore. For each career field a student selects, the student will spend at least four weeks out in the field shadowing a professional.
In the classroom, students will learn crucial career and workplace skills, including how to write cover letters and resumes, job interviewing skills, communication skills, college and career research and planning, transferable skills and time management skills.
“Through this course, students will develop the skills and competencies they need to be successful after high school. It allows students to practice and apply what they have learned in school to real world situations.”
Career Exploration teacher Andrew Goodelle
The district’s 2023-28 Strategic Plan, adopted by the New Hartford Board of Education in February 2023, directs the district to increase the percentage of students enrolled in Career and Technical Education courses. The district is also committed to strengthening school community engagement and communication with one of the district’s four goals being to foster trust and community with all stakeholders and develop partnerships that nurture future-focused learning.
“I am a firm believer in learning beyond the school’s walls and growing community partnerships. I am excited to provide this unique and personalized learning experience for our students,” said Mr. Goodelle.