Michigan has amazing industrial and business resources. Public schools have a real opportunity to bridge the gap between the skill demands of our businesses and labor force with the students who are graduating from our high schools.

Northwest Community Schools (NWCS) is doing just that.

After realizing there was a gap in what was being provided for students in actual career experiences while still in high school, NWCS created an advisory board in 2013 to guide the school's focus on career readiness. This committee, consisting of Jackson area business leaders from all major sectors, looked at the research, provided input from their areas of expertise and with direction from lead teachers, launched a new program called the Northwest Community Schools Externship Program.

The NWCS externship program is a work-based experience for high school seniors. Students spend two or more hours a day for two trimesters working in their designated career pathway. Students take an in-school externship course first trimester to learn valuable skills that prepare them for the second and third trimester.  During this first trimester, an interview fair is organized allowing area businesses to conduct mock interviews. All externs participate in job shadowing experiences.They are placed in professions that they are considering for their externship field experience.  

The externship program curriculum consists of five primary units developed by the two teachers, Marnie Hade and Randi Watts -- general skills and career forms, career research using career cruising software, interviewing skills and soft skills, a personal finance unit and safety training. Students are also trained in CPR, first aid and AED response.

NWCS has seen progressive results after two years of implementation. 

Amanda Cook and Emily Dangler-Hawkins both aspire to work in the health care industry. Amanda wants to be an ER nurse.  Emily dreams of being a pediatric nurse. The Jackson County Center for Family Health provided opportunities for on-the-job training in the health care field.

Amanda worked in urgent care and Emily worked in pediatrics. Both ladies were mature and well prepared; they were the first to volunteer for jobs even among college students. Through their journals, they noted that they learned about communicating with all types of people. They learned patience and gained self-confidence by learning what they would never had be exposed to in a traditional classroom. 

“Opportunities for students to extern in health care are incredibly important and fulfilling, especially when so many students are interested in health care and not many opportunities are available for high school students in our area,” said Marnie Hade, the Northwest High School externship coordinator.

Megan Rose is interested in becoming an athletic trainer. Her externship was with Orthopedic Rehab Specialists’ high school sports trainer. Megan has learned many techniques to help student athletes, including taping techniques, icing, muscles spasm, minor injury and chronic injury care. Megan often sees herself as a shy person, but through her externship she has built a great rapport with her mentoring athletic trainer and the student athletes.

“I have learned many different ways to provide care to student athletes,” said Rose. “I have learned how to communicate with adults and students who are so often in pain and frustrated,” she added.

These experiences are show the program is doing exactly what the it aims to do. 

“Collectively, we are on the right path in exposing students in high school to careers,” said Hade. “Job shadowing and the externship program are critical to building career awareness. We have learned the importance of soft skills such as self-confidence, communication, attitude and professionalism. Exposure to real careers at a young age allows for direct connections to classrooms, making course work much more relevant, interesting and engaging,” she added.

By listening to our colleagues in the area businesses and industries, K-12 education can be responsive to the needs of the workforce. As a result, schools can provide positive leverage for our students for a rewarding and successful future in college, post-secondary training and a sustainable career. This will ultimately equate to success for our community, and our state as a whole.