In October, the pathways team hosted the 2nd annual Pathway Playground Career Exploration fair for 8th graders at Sauk Valley Community College. Over 70 local businesses representing different careers manned booths to provide hands-on experiences for 900+ students. The event was organized around the seven Illinois Career Clusters and students were allowed time in each cluster to talk and explore.
The College and Career Pathways Endorsements team has worked with 12 area schools to submit 29 pathways in four areas: Manufacturing, AFNR, Health and Human Services, and Health Sciences for SY2024. Pathway development work continues to grow throughout districts in the Sauk Valley Area.
Sauk Valley Community College has submitted a proposal to the Illinois Community College Board to launch a sonography program in fall 2024, further expanding healthcare pathways to local students. The program will offer an associate degree in applied science specializing in the sonography industry and accreditation standards through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
To expand career development activities, the River Bend Board of Education will vote on a high school transition position at Fulton High School that will allow the teacher to focus on expanding pathways, reinforcing and expanding work-based study for seniors, and helping freshmen transition to successfully start their high school careers. The new position will help the high school better serve the students and position the school to increase pathway opportunities. Fulton High School seniors spend a portion of the day on-site completing work-study activities for a full year. The position will also help improve partnerships with employers as the district seeks to support employer partnerships.
