LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Director of Secondary Programs

  • Loveland High School seniors experience Speed Mentoring

    Loveland High School seniors experience Speed Mentoring

    Clermont County Chamber of Commerce Foundation Work Readiness Initiative equips some 300 students with mentoring by more than 30 professionals 

    Miami Township, Ohio – Three-hundred students, 35 professionals and seven minutes to listen and ask questions.

    LHS Senior Zach Richards was dressed for success, wearing a suit and tie to meet the volunteer professionals during the Speed Mentoring event

    It’s called Speed Mentoring and it’s one of the unique opportunities offered through the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Work Readiness Initiative. The volunteer professionals recruited by the Chamber set up at Loveland’s Oasis Center to mentor Loveland High School’s entire senior class; small groups of students sat with each professional for Q&A sessions that lasted seven minutes each, before rotating. At the end of the event, students had the opportunity to work with all of the professionals.

    LHS Senior Hayley Combs asked questions during a session rotation at the Speed Mentoring event

    “I think it’s a really unique opportunity to learn about businesses that are in our area that I had no idea were here,” said LHS Senior Hayley Combs. “This is enabling me to begin to form a network of professionals in the community which will keep me from going into college without knowing anyone to connect with for opportunities during college and after graduation.”

    “It’s a priceless connection our students were able to make during this debut Speed Mentoring session,” said Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner. “This was a rare opportunity to learn about professions our students may be planning to enter into directly from the people who are players in those fields. We are grateful to the Clermont Chamber for hosting such an enriching event.”

    Loveland Director of Secondary Programs Andrea Conner

    Loveland has put strategic focus in building up an Academic Pathway Program for students beginning as early as middle school. Recently, Loveland signed a partnership with the University of Cincinnati to create an Information Technology Pathway – one of the first for high schools students in Ohio. And, the district is working to expand its internship program for LHS students.

    “It’s all about helping our students think outside of the traditional classroom to enhance their learning experience, and really begin to craft the story they want for their future once they leave Loveland High School,” said Conner. “It is no small decision for our students; we will continue to push ourselves as educators to help them on this journey.”

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  • Creating a pathway to success at Loveland schools

    Creating a pathway to success at Loveland schools

    By Andrea Conner, Loveland Director of Secondary Programs

    If only educating our young people were as simple as plugging in coordinates on a GPS, then every graduate would know exactly what he/she wants to do after high school and have a defined plan detailing how to get there.

    Well, Tiger Family… meet your new GPS: Academic Pathways.

    Think of Academic Pathways as guiding maps for our students as they explore personal career interests and make connections to their course sequencing beginning in middle school. The district has clearly defined Academic Pathways for careers in: Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communication; Business Management and Administration; Health Science; Information Technology (in partnership with University of Cincinnati); and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – with the phase-in of additional pathways in the 2018-2019 school year. 

    The Academic Pathways contain information about which courses are available at the middle school and high school that, in addition to meeting the core requirements, will be helpful in pursuing the chosen pathway. They also provide suggestions about opportunities for extended learning, such as job shadowing/mentoring and internship placements, as well as links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ updated information about the various professions within the Academic Pathway. For instance, the Academic Pathway for business will tell you what courses you could take in middle school through graduation, and then define the career with sample job choices complete with expected pay.

    So, how do Tigers access this rich data?

    With the expansion of Naviance, a college/career readiness tool, into grades six-eight, students will begin their college/career planning. This spring, sixth-grade students will explore various careers in the system and begin to create goals for themselves that will be refined throughout their educational experience in grades seven-12, as students will be revisiting their electronic portfolio in Naviance every year. By beginning Naviance work at the middle school, our students will have a greater opportunity in high school for more in-depth explorations and planning as they continue to make more detailed post-secondary plans.

    Our buildings will equip parents with information to set up a special parent account in Naviance to share in this cutting-edge student journey.

    Educating our Tigers is not as simple as plugging in set coordinates to find their set direction – we know this, but with parents and the school working together through assisting our students in making the connection between their academics and their passions, we can better support their post-secondary planning, and grow college and career-ready Tigers.

    Andrea Conner is Director of Secondary Programs
    for the Loveland City School District
    conneran@lovelandschools.org

     

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