The idea was simple - expand the concept of Jefferson County Public Schools’ (JCPS) hugely successful Academies of Louisville programs down into middle schools and give those younger students a chance to see what different career paths might look like. After a few schools piloted the program, it was launched in earnest in the 2022-23 school year with the name Explore, a good fit for its goal of allowing middle school students to explore career or technical pathways that might interest them.
That first year, six schools participated. This school year, 18 middle schools have Explore Pathways.
“I think the exposure in middle school to the Explore program has helped students think about their future more,” said Ashley Forrest, Explore coach at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. “They are feeling more confident not only about their high school options but what they want to do with their life.”
There are five Explore Pathways available to middle school students depending on their school: Business and Communication, Consumer Science, Healthcare Science, Public Service, and Engineering and Design. The students get a chance to hear from professionals in those fields and gaining insight into the advantages and challenges of various careers before choosing a pathway that interests them. Fire chiefs, doctors, engineers, business leaders, marketers – they’ve all shared their experiences with students.
The Explore coaches at each school say the classes and programming not only give students a chance to figure out what they like, but also what professions they’re not interested in.
“That may be just as important,” Forrest said.
At Grace James Academy, a healthcare science activity involved dissecting a chicken leg to see how the ligaments work as part of their muscular system. One student, who thought she wanted to be a nurse, was so enthralled by the exercise and the related discussion about being a coroner that she now wants to be a coroner.
“She can tell you what the average salary is and what the educational requirements are,” said Alyssa Reidy, Grace James Explore coach. “That’s one bit of anecdotal evidence of just how exposing them to something they didn’t know about before could change someone’s life path.”
According to the coaches, students are much more confident in themselves, their leadership skills and their futures. The growth of Explore is benefitting JCPS high schools as well. 8th graders are taking the pride in their career interest to their resides Academies of Louisville high school and program.
At Olmsted Academy South, girls whose families didn’t necessarily have a positive impression of Iroquois High School are now excited about the prospect of going there and continuing to pursue their interest in culinary.
“So, these girls’ visits to Iroquois, being there and being connected to that high school is changing the perception,” said Erin Yates, Olmsted South’s Explore coach.
As for the future of Explore, its executive administrator Marcella Minogue said the goal is to add more student authentic experiences in the community where they can learn through service and channel their passions. Minogue said that would include an expansion of partnerships with non-profit organizations.
“That’s a big next step,” in the effort to get more students involved in real world, giving back opportunities, she said.
Minogue said adding Explore in more middle schools is a possibility though solidifying an equitable learning experience across all 18 current Explore schools is the top priority.
“We want to make sure we’re providing best practice, high level instruction and guaranteed experiences for our students to prepare them for their future,” Minogue said.