"Crisis-Proofing Learners" issue (September)
A newsletter (for adults) about career-readiness (for kids).
Dear Readers,
Over the past few years, I have been working on a project that is the culmination of my life’s work, and of the vision that I — and my colleagues at ASA — hold for our kids’ futures. I am excited to announce the launch of my inaugural book, titled Crisis-Proofing Today’s Learners: Reimagining Career Education to Prepare Kids for Tomorrow’s World.
Amidst the tragedy and uncertainty of the pandemic, it became very clear that so many young people were struggling to thrive in school, let alone make the transition from school to adult life. Too many middle and high schoolers, through absolutely no fault of their own, are always one crisis away from potential failure. During the early pandemic, my belief was validated — that the current state of K12 education is that schools are overwhelmed. As a result, career-focused education is not being prioritized. Kids are not getting equitable access to information, resources, and the experiences they need to explore careers and build the skills they need to succeed in the world of work. A better, more promising way exists to help kids know themselves, their options, and become assured of their potential to make an impact.
In Crisis-Proofing, I put forward a clarion call for that change, and I make a plea for career-focused learning that begins in middle school. I offer insights and a roadmap for educators, parents, policymakers, and advocates to shift the educational paradigm in favor of what every kid needs right now in order to ensure that they are prepared to withstand whatever life throws at them tomorrow. We have to provide additional ways beyond the classroom for students to plan their futures, and we have to put the joy in that learning. The best way to augment the work being done in schools and take some pressure off of them is through student-led, digital career readiness experiences that go beyond the classroom. This is the best way to scale equitable access and give millions of kids agency in the decisions that will ultimately impact their futures.
This month, I want to extend my gratitude to all of you as readers and as supporters of this important mission. I invite you to learn more and secure a copy of the book (available on Amazon) by pre-ordering for the October 7th launch. All proceeds from the book will go to support ASA’s free career readiness resources that reach and engage millions of kids.
Sincerely,
Jean
(If you’d like to reach me directly, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at press@asa.org)
P.S. - My pick of the month is Iowa High School Apprenticeship Program Fills Gaps in EMS. It’s got me inspired about how career exploration and experimentation aren’t just good for kids, but are good for ALL of us when they connect human potential to careers and sectors that are crying out for talent, like emergency medicine.
Maine Students Discover Exciting Career Possibilities at Unique Hands-On Career Fair
This piece shares details of the 14-school-wide middle and high school career fair hosted at Medomak Middle School in Maine. Participating students were given windows into a wide variety of careers and filled out “passports” that let them rank how much they enjoyed different stations, giving them hints about possible career areas to explore.
The Bottom Line: It’s one career fair in one state, and career fairs are not — as a standalone — enough to set a kid on their way to finding their pathway. However, this fair exemplifies the power such coordinated experiences between schools and workplaces hold for kids to access valuable, sector-specific information and start to build professional networks — things that could never happen in a classroom alone.
Gen Z’s Declining College Interest Persists - Even Among Middle Schoolers (Research from YPulse)
40% of Workers Will Need New Job Training Due to AI: IBM (A report from IBM)
Gen Z Values College, but Affordability Concerns Remain (Research from Gallup and Walton Family Foundation)
White House 75% Closer to Placing 250k Tutors, Mentors in Schools (Data from the National Partnership for Student Success)
“Ambitious Growth” is Needed to Accelerate Learning Recovery (A report from Curriculum Associates)
Groundbreaking Book from National Youth Career Readiness Expert Jean Eddy Flags Urgent Need to Transform K12 Career Education and Give Teens Information, Experiences, and Skills to Prepare for Jobs of Tomorrow (Yahoo Finance, September 26, 2023)
Round Rock ISD Adds P-TECH Early College Program (Round Rock ISD News, September 6, 2023)
ChatGPT Releases Teacher Guide for AI Use in the Classroom (K-12 Dive, September 18, 2023)
You Can’t Have an AI Plumber: Why Gen Z Might be Ditching College For Skilled Trades (Fast Company, August 24, 2023)
TecnoLatinx Gives Youth Skills to Explore Careers in VR and Other Emerging Technologies (ABC 7 Eyewitness News, August 22, 2023)
Denver Public Schools Looking to Expand Mentorship Program, in Need of Volunteers (Denver 7 News, August 21, 2023)
More Students Participate in Work-Based Learning and Dual Enrollment Programs (Moultrie Observer, August 28, 2023)
SkillUp Coalition, in Partnership with Truist Foundation, Launches Remote Job Catalog Focused on Access, Quality, and Career Growth for Non-Degree Holders (Cision/PR Newswire, September 7, 2023)
Governor Polis Expanding Work-Based Learning Opportunities in Colorado (Longmont Leader, September 8, 2023)
Students Need More Real-World Experience from Industry: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has an “EPIC” Solution. (Medium.com/ASA Newsroom, September 13, 2023)
More Than 30,000 North Carolina K-12 Students are Using Career Coaches to Navigate Education Options. Here’s Why That’s Great News. (Yahoo Finance, September 7, 2023)
Shelby County Schools Provide Career Exploration Opportunities Through Virtual Reality Headsets for Students (WBRC 6 News, August 30, 2023)
Employers, Take Note: High School Internship Programs Help Fill Workforce Pipeline (San Antonio Report, August 30, 2023)
Below is a list of upcoming events and recaps of recent panel presentations that elevate critical conversations in the youth career readiness space.
Register to Attend:
Paving the Way for Pathways: Connecting Local Schools and Businesses (Tacoma - October 19-21, 2023)
Association of Middle Level Education (National Harbor, MD - November 1-4, 2023)
Recaps:
Student-Led or Teacher-Led? Career Exploration Can be Both (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel)
Skills: Building Blocks for Every Pathway (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel)
What are the Ingredients for Education-to-Workforce Success? My Conversation with Mike Palmer on the Trending in Ed Podcast (A recap of a podcast)
Democratizing Success: Blended Pathways for the Next Generation of Learners (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel conversation)
Ready for Earning, Learning, and Life (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel conversation)
Preparing the Next Generation for Future Careers - My Conversation with Jean-Claude Brizard and Michael Horn (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel conversation)
Changing the World is Hard: What Impact Investors Think About Non-Degree Pathways (A recap of an ASU+GSV panel conversation)
Here to Stay: Expanding Pathways in Postsecondary Education (A recap of a SXSW EDU panel conversation)
If Not a Degree, Then What? Verifying Candidates in a Skills-Based Hiring Framework (A recap of a SXSW EDU panel presentation)
Engaging Employers in High School Work-based Learning (A recap of a SXSW EDU panel presentation)