Wildcat Workforce. Street Industries. Viking Enterprises. Raiders Inc.
These groups are Ohio County Schools’ middle school CTE programming. Beginning in 2021 for all, and even earlier at Warwood Middle School, administrators put an emphasis on CTE to ensure students had a variety of real-world, career-pathway opportunities, all designed to align with programs in existence at Wheeling Park High School.
Inspired by the book, Empower, former Warwood Principal, Joey Subasic, and current principal, James Rowing, explained that the idea for middle school CTE came as a way to create a more robust Enrichment period: “As we brainstormed how to transform Enrichment, we drew inspiration from the book and trainings as well as from our own school experiences. Joey recalled the hands-on opportunities in career and technical education (CTE), while I remembered the projects I had enjoyed most as a student, which were more student-centered and interactive. This shared vision led us to the idea of blending project-based learning with elements of career and technical education to create a simulated workplace experience for middle schoolers.”
Innovation Coordinator, JoJo Shay, took a large role in the initial creation of this program. “She helped to develop school-specific protocols based on West Virginia’s CTE guidelines, create an employee handbook for students, and design a two-day professional development session to prepare staff. Teachers learned about the 12 CTE protocols, real-world Project Based Learning Activities, provided feedback, and began planning projects,” states Rowing.
Once the concept grew, Dr. Miller and Mr. Jones requested that each middle school program adopt a version of the workplace to fit the specific needs of their schools. “The impact was immediate. With every student placed in a unique workplace, we saw more students stepping into leadership roles and developing new skills. Staff also began to embrace the period, as students led projects such as creating posters, designing websites, producing a news show, and planning field trips. The empowerment we envisioned exceeded our expectations,” Subasic and Rowing state.
To date, each middle school has more than a dozen possibilities for students to “apply” for at the start of the school year. Each school has a unique set of offerings based on that school’s specific desires and possibilities. Whether exploring robotics, engineering, marketing, arts, or entertainment, the options that exist are designed to help students identify key career interests early on in their academic careers. “When a student is invested in their curriculum, they have a reason to stay engaged. Many students look forward to the final 45 minutes of their day so they can be immersed in what they hope to be a lifelong career,” states Public Relations Director, Karin Butyn. “I love my time at BSMS Beauties, (Bridge Street Middle School’s Cosmetology program), it’s honestly my favorite part of the day,” states a 7th-grade student.
The vast majority of these middle school programs feed into existing high school programs allowing for a smooth transition into a desired pathway at Wheeling Park High School. “The skills students are learning now…and learning early…will have a positive impact on the rest of their lives,” states Butyn.
New to Ohio County Schools? Considering checking out our programs? Contact 304-243-0493 to schedule a tour at your applicable school today.
