West Aurora High School Puts Career Readiness In The Limelight

AURORA, IL—West Aurora High School is being honored for its career readiness programs which aim to educate students on post-graduation options.

Whether that means college, trade school, or jumping into the job field, administrators said it’s important for students to find the path that’s right for them.

Their efforts have made the school a finalist for the 2021 Hobsons Education Advances Award.

Sue Fowler, College and Career Readiness coordinator at WAHS, said the initiative to educate students about post-secondary options heated up in 2015 when WAHS administrators realized the the senior class had little understanding of the opportunities awaiting them outside the school walls.

This fact triggered a need to provide students with more Career, College and Readiness Programs. Problem was, they had to integrate these skills into an already busy school schedule.

Determined to make CCLR a priority at the school, administrators set out to create a CCLR program that worked for WAHS students. This included helping students identify and explore different careers, research colleges, meet with admission reps, find scholarship opportunities, build a resume, and obtain transcripts.

Two years ago, District 129 introduced eighth grade students to CCLR curriculum. Using tools to help them identify potential career interests, they can get a jump start on their futures, Fowler said.

This year, administrators took things a step further by bringing CCLR learning options to sixth and seventh grade students.

It is the district’s hope that this early engagement will make a lasting impression of students’ futures.