Career Development in Mount Airy City Schools

Career Development Planning

In grades 6-12, MACS students begin exploring career and college readiness options through career inventory assessments, employability skills training, career and college research, and creating goals and plans.

Career Development Planning is done in collaboration with Career Development Coordinators (CDCs), School Counselors, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Teachers.

The MACS Career Development Learning Continuum (see below) outlines the career development journey our students experience.

We have a Career Development Coordinator that serves both Mount Airy Middle and Mount Airy High School. For more information, contact Krystal Tyndall ([email protected]).

Career Guidance Themes

Student Ownership of their Learning
Student Empowerment
Employability & Metacognitive Skills
Academic Advancement
Intentional, Informed Career & Academic Decision-Making
Equitable Systems of Support
Facilitate Smooth Transitions
Financial Literacy

What is a Career Development Plan (CDP)?

A student’s career development plan starts in middle school and goes through expansion and refinement as students' career goals come into focus through high school. This systematic approach helps middle and high school students of all backgrounds, abilities, and aspirations explore careers and colleges in a meaningful, personalized way.

Students gain knowledge and skills to plan current and future goals and revise their plan annually to accommodate changing interests, personalized pathway choices, and post-secondary goals. Through this process, students make intentional choices about the courses, programs, and opportunities they choose along the way. Transitions from middle-to-high school and high school-to-post-secondary transitions more seamless and less stressful. After high school graduation, our goal is that students are either:

Enrolled in a college, university, community college, technical school, or apprenticeship program,
Employed in the workforce, or
Enlisted in the military.

Every Student, Future Ready

Mount Airy City Schools has partnered with Xello to facilitate electronic portfolios for each student. This system includes career readiness lessons, career interest assessments, personal goal setting and career planning, career and college research, financial aid information, job descriptions, job growth, salary expectations, and high school planning. The platform houses each student’s course planner and can be changed to Spanish. Students also benefit from Google Earth View campus tours. Additional benefits include:

Resume development
Experience documentation
Personal reflection
Assessments such as personality styles, learning styles

Mount Airy City Schools Career Development Learning Continuum

* Introduction of Career Awareness *
5th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Career exploration begins with becoming aware of the World of Work and the association between school-based education and the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful community citizen. It is important to learn about the surrounding community. As a part of career awareness, students also become aware of their likes and dislikes. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Curriculum Night Career Exploration Focus Career Spirit Day CFNC- Paws in Job Land STEAM curriculum/career events Classroom job interviews	***** Career Awareness & Self-Knowledge *****
	6th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Career development begins with career awareness and knowing one’s self. Helping understand and reflect on their unique, personal characteristics allows them to answer the first question in their career plan – Who am I? Interests, values, skills, personality type, and career beliefs are examined. Students become aware of their likes and dislikes and formulate career aspirations. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Learning Style Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities/Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Xello Lessons Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses	* Knowledge of the World of Work & Education *
		7th Grade Student Learning Outcome: As students progress in their learning and maturity, a deeper approach to career awareness takes place. Tying students’ understanding of the world of work to education is critical. They need to connect what they are learning in school to their dreams. Students are able to give examples of how their skills and interests relate to career fields and occupations. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Learning Style Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities/Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Xello Lessons Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses	* Decision Making & Goal Setting *
			8th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Career decisions further students’ understanding of themselves and of their options. Making decisions and setting goals advances students toward their future in a purposeful, personal, and meaningful way. Students recognize that their educational performance is important for reaching their goals and make decisions in a systematic way. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Learning Style Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities/Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Construction Day events at SCC and Veteran’s Park Worker’s Permit, job application and Resume Discussions Tour of High School CTE Programs Credentials and College Prep Presentations Individual Course Planning Meetings Xello Lessons Students@Work Week Industry Visits Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses

* Self Assessment *
9th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Students will continue to build upon activities that identify and solidify their vision, values, interests, skills, traits and abilities. Students will dabble in their areas of interests via high school subject areas and electives. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Innovation Day Activities Learning Style Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities School Based Enterprise and Makers-Space Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Construction Day events at SCC and Veteran’s Park Worker’s Permit, job application and Resume Discussions Tour of High School CTE Programs Credentials and College Prep Presentations Individual Course Planning Meetings Xello Lessons Career Fair Research and Presentations- 9th Grade English Classes Microburst Employability Credential offering- Career Management (9-12) Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses YES Surry Entrepreneurship Competition Career and College Conversations Events twice monthly Participation in Safer-Surry Events Collection of Service Hours	* Career Exploration *
	10th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Students will progress through activities that explore career options and interests based on their self-assessment. Students will continue to dabble in their areas of interests via subject areas and electives. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Innovation Day Activities Learning Style Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities School Based Enterprise and Makers-Space Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Construction Day events at SCC and Veteran’s Park Worker’s Permit, job application and Resume Discussions Tour of High School CTE Programs Credentials and College Prep Presentations Individual Course Planning Meetings Xello Lessons CCAC Presentations in10th Grade English Classes Microburst Employability Credential offering- Career Management (9-12) Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses YES Surry Entrepreneurship Competition Career and College Conversations Events twice monthly Participation in Safer-Surry Events Collection of Service Hours	* Career Identification *
		11th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Students will evaluate their career options to set defined career goals through enriched career development activities. While doing so, students will consider the pros and cons of their choices. Students will also identify postsecondary opportunities that align with their career goals. Students will continue to dabble in their areas of interests via subject areas and electives. Experiences might include: Career Fair CTE Month Activities Innovation Day Activities All Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor or CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities School Based Enterprise and Makers-Space Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Construction Day events at SCC and Veteran’s Park Worker’s Permit, job application and Resume Discussions Tour of High School CTE Programs Credentials and College Prep Presentations Individual Course Planning Meetings Xello Lessons, Resume Builder CCAC Presentations in11th Grade English Classes Microburst Employability Credential offering- Career Management (9-12) Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses YES Surry Entrepreneurship Competition Career and College Conversations Events twice monthly Surry-Yadkin Works Apprenticeship and paid internship program Intro Participation in Safer-Surry Events Work-Keys Prep CTE Honor Society Participation Collection of Service Hours	* Action Plan *
			12th Grade Student Learning Outcome: Students will choose from desired activities to create a viable, personal plan of action in order to accomplish career goals. Within their individualized plan of action, strategies and deadlines must be set in order to make their goals become a reality for life after high school. Experiences might include: Career Fair/Job Fair Military Recruitment CTE Month Activities Innovation Day Activities All Assessments in Xello Career Interest Inventories in Xello Individual or small group meetings with your counselor, senior advisor, and CDC to meet personalized learning needs Classroom speakers representing diverse careers in CTE Reality Check & NCCareers.org CTSO education STEAM Club events and competitions Summer Camp opportunities Career Cafe Activities CTE Showcase School Enterprise and Makers-Space Opportunities School Based Enterprise and Makers-Space Competitions Business & Industry Field Trips- Students at Work Surry Community College presentation Other College tours Career and College Promise Education Construction Day events at SCC and Veteran’s Park Worker’s Permit, job application and Resume Discussions Tour of High School CTE Programs Credentials and College Prep Presentations Individual Course Planning Meetings Xello Lessons, Resume Builder CCAC Presentations in12th Grade English Classes Microburst Employability Credential offering- Career Management (9-12) Offer Microcredentials in CTE courses YES Surry Entrepreneurship Competition Career and College Conversations Events twice monthly Surry-Yadkin Works Apprenticeship and paid internship program participation offerings Participation in Safer-Surry Events FAFSA Night Work-Keys Prep CTE Honor Society Participation NC College Application Week Application Activities Collection of Service Hours