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Grant will enable Seneca Valley students to connect with working world

Seneca Valley School District ›  |  Posted on

The Seneca Valley School District has been awarded a Career Readiness Mini-Grant in the amount of $5,000 thanks to the generous support of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The grant funds will allow students to connect to the world of work in Butler County and Pennsylvania at large.

Here are SV’s goals as outlined in the grant proposal:

  • Elementary students will learn about post-secondary options by visiting several campuses
  • Seneca Valley’s career advisory council will be strengthened through stronger relationships with local employers, the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board (TCWIB) and other regional partners
  • Students will explore vocational/technical career fields via a tour and discussion of career options
  • High school students will explore career options in their chosen career cluster through travel to worksites in their area(s) of interest

“It is a great reward for our teachers and counselors to hear a student affirmatively say that they are college or career ready when they graduate,” said Jeffrey Roberts, supervisor of Gifted Education and Student Services. “That journey began years earlier at Seneca Valley. We want our graduating students to be an asset to our community.”

The project plan addresses the challenge of career readiness at all levels. Students who are career ready at graduation began the journey years earlier in elementary school. By being purposeful in implementing activities that fulfill the career education and work standards at the elementary level students will be ready to “go and see” several post-secondary campuses. The journey continues by tying the Butler County Area Vocational Technical School (BCAVT) tour to students developing an individualized career plan in eighth grade. This is critical for having an adequate future workforce in high priority careers.

Additionally, the career treks program allows Seneca Valley school counselors to connect high school students with the workplace in a meaningful way, particularly for those who cannot participate in job shadowing or the co-op program. Many high school students need to see a variety of job options, which the career treks program supports. These efforts will connect students to their ideal pathways for future success.

“We know that career readiness is not an event,” explained Mr. Roberts. “Instead, career readiness is accomplished through a thoughtful, coordinated effort that spans a student’s entire time at Seneca Valley.”

Partners for this grant request include BCAVT and the Tri-County Workforce Investment Board (TCWIB), a consortium that serves the counties of Armstrong, Butler and Indiana, and meets the current and future needs of employers and job seekers.