Page 9 - Careers & Stuff 2021

Getting Career-Ready
PATHWAYS PROGRAMS GET STUDENTS ON TRACK FOR A JOB
BY MICHAEL BRADLEY
The POLYTECH School District motto rolls smoothly off the tongue of Superintendent
Dr. Amelia Hodges: “The Power of Knowledge for Career and College.”
It’s a catchy phrase, but more importantly a great way to look at how POLYTECH approaches its mission
for its students. The goal is to create an environment of self-discovery that allows them to find professions that match their interests and talents. The end result is a collection of graduates that is prepared to enter the workforce immediately or pursue some other kind of academic or technical training. By providing a variety of opportunities and presenting an education that is both broad-based but also professionally specific, POLYTECH produces well- rounded students capable of moving
confidently in a variety of directions. “We are teaching ‘soft skills’ from
the day students come here,” Hodges says. “They learn how to work together, problem solve and work in a team environment, along with exposing them to technical skills so they can walk into the workforce or move on to higher ed.”
Across Delaware, high schools are teaching students more than just the three Rs. While the basics remain extremely important for creating
a curious mind capable of critical thinking, it is also crucial to help young people discern in what directions they want to travel after graduation. Asking a 16-year-old to chart the next 50 or so years of life is a bit much, but providing opportunities to discover possible career interests is vital in today’s changing work environment.
DelawareBusinessTimes.com | CAREERS & STUFF 7