Overview
The end of the school year in June marked the successful completion of the first year of Anne Arundel County’s new Career Coaching initiative under Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Previously, career counseling was a shared responsibility between school counselors and AVID teachers. However, with this new initiative, each middle school was provided with a dedicated Career Coach focused solely on career exposure and exploration. Throughout their inaugural year, middle school Career Coaches implemented career-centric activities and established strong relationships with students, faculty, and community partners, laying a solid foundation for a robust future workforce.
MOU Signing
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Career Coaching initiative was signed on June 27th, 2023, by all four partners within the initiative: the Anne Arundel County Local Workforce Development Board, Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC), Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), and Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). The MOU signifies a collaborative effort to provide long-term career counseling services to all middle and high school students under Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Impact of Career Coaching
Career Coaching is much more than just a pathway to employment; it is a transformative experience that prepares students for their professional futures while fostering essential life skills and confidence. In Anne Arundel County, it broadens students’ horizons, offering new career options and bridging the gap between academic and real-life learning. “I’ve seen a lot of students come into their own and be really excited about the different opportunities [available to them],” says Career Coach August Bryant. Career Coaching also strengthens the local, national, and global workforce by producing well-prepared candidates.
Introduction to H.I.T.C.H.
The first classroom activity implemented by Career Coaches was an “Introduction to H.I.T.C.H.,” which explored Anne Arundel County’s top five in-demand industries: Healthcare, I.T., Transportation, Construction/Skilled Trades, and Hospitality. By the end of the activity, students were able to identify these industries, or “career clusters,” and examples of careers within each field. Several Career Coaches displayed posters in their schools to reinforce what students learned. With assistance from the AVID Coordinator, Meade Middle School hosted the very first Career Day on October 13, 2023, attended by 180 8th grade students, to hear from speakers employed in these industries.
The University of Maryland Medical System, School Nurse, Registered Nurse, Medicaid Coordinator, Mental Health Counselor.
Cyber Security Specialist for AT&T.
Representatives from Fort Meade Air Force.
Roto Rooter Plumbing.
Kennedy Center Backstage Coordinator.
Anne Arundle County Sheriff Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, USA Environmental Agency, Anne Arundel County Public Library.
Pathful
Pathful Connect and Explore are two platforms used in schools by Career Coaches and other faculty to prepare students for career readiness. Pathful Connect allows Career Coaches to host virtual speakers at Career Days. Pathful Explore uses interactive tools, assessments, and videos to help students navigate the chnaging world of work. This year students completed 6,584 assessments on the platform under the guidance of Career Coaches.
Career Days
In collaboration with department chairs and other school staff, many Career Coaches hosted Career Days and Fairs to provide students with insights into potential career paths. Hundreds of professionals from various fields attended these events to share their experiences. While some events were open to entire grade levels, others focused on specific classes to show the direct connection between curriculum and careers. In March, for example, Old Mill Middle School North Career Coach La-Toya Jones coordinated a Social Studies Career Day for 8th grade students studying the Civil War. Speakers included Commissioners from the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, state delegates and interns, and trailblazers in entertainment and news broadcasting.
Academic Connections
Career Coaches developed strong relationships with school faculty and staff this year, working together to align academic goals with career exploration. “Especially at the middle school level, students really struggle to see how what they’re working on is relevant,” says Keyada George, the Language Arts Department Chair at Old Mill Middle North. Collaborations with school counselors helped students create SMART goals and identify high school programs that support their career aspirations. Support from school administrators facilitated smooth and successful Career Days, and partnerships with teachers were crucial for the daily involvement of Career Coaches in schools.
Community Engagement
Career Coaches regularly met with Community School Program Managers to provide resources and information to both parents and students throughout the school year. They also helped organize numerous activities beyond the classroom, such as the Meade Cluster Wellness Event and adult English classes for families. At Meade Middle School, the Career Coach worked with the community school coordinator to make more connections with parents. The Career Coach collaborated with AAWDC’s Community team to host resume, interview, and job fair skill seminars for the student’s families. AAWDC’s Business team coordinated the Western Anne Arundel County Hiring Event at the school so families could practice the new skills while getting a good quality job.
Partnership with Anne Arundel Community College
To build on students’ learning during the school year, AAWDC and AACPS partnered with Anne Arundel Community College to offer nine summer camp opportunities for
rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. These camps have provided hands-on experience in fields of interest like robotics, culinary arts, skilled trades, and more.
Summer Opportunities
Over the course of the summer, AAWDC partnered with Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW) and University Startups to expand student’s leadership and entrepreneurial skillset. The weeklong MLW immersion experience which was held at Washington College for middle and high school students was sponsored by AAWDC (no cost to parents). AAWDC worked with University Startups to host the free in-person Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for rising 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students. Both summer opportunities focused on strengthening students’ creative problem-solving, projectmanagement, advocacy, and public speaking skills.
Looking Ahead
In the 2024-25 school year, the Career Coaching initiative will expand into high schools, initially focusing on 9th and 10th grade students. Many rising 9th graders have already built relationships with their middle school Career Coaches, some of whom will be transitioning to the high school setting. While career exploration will remain the primary goal in middle schools, high school goals will shift toward enhancing college and career readiness. Career Coaches are eager to share fresh ideas and opportunities through new career-centric activities, hands-on experiences, and increased involvement in the community. As part of this expansion, the initiative will also debut its new look as Anne Arundel Student Career Excellence (AASCE), reflecting a continued commitment to student success and career readiness. “Next year is going to be one of our greatest years,” says Career Coach Angela Brantley. “We love what we’re doing, we’re passionate about it, [and] we know how to build connections.”
Download the AASCE First Annual Report.