Seminole County spotlights CTE expansion, PBIS model schools and $500,000 ASCA counseling pilot

Seminole County Public Schools officials used the Feb. 4 board meeting to showcase career and technical education (CTE) growth, recognize schools for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation, and outline a two-year, $500,000 American School Counseling Association (ASCA) pilot to expand direct counseling services.

The presentations and recognitions were given by district CTE and counseling staff and were followed by brief board discussion and routine approvals. Ally Hilliard, coordinator of CTE for the district's ePathways program, introduced the CTE student awards and summarized career-pathway investments across elementary, middle and high schools. Dr. Lindsey Williams, the district school-counseling coordinator, described the ASCA pilot and how counselors will use it to expand direct student services and K–12 career planning.

The meeting opened with a student guest speaker and SciHigh senior Avanish “Avi” Putty, who described how ePathways and SciHigh’s project-based learning shaped his college and career plans. "When I first entered the Seminole County Public School System... what truly impressed me was how our district rose to meet those unprecedented challenges," Avi said, recounting his transition to Seminole County and the district's remote-learning response during COVID. He told the board he had been accepted to the University of Miami's entrepreneurship program and credited SciHigh and ePathways for directing his internships and career choices.

Hilliard presented the district’s CTE student-of-the-year recognitions from numerous schools and described hands-on offerings from elementary Playful Pathways and middle-school LEAP courses to high-school industry certifications and internships. The district highlighted three new high-school programs created this year based on student feedback: Global Finance at Lake Brantley High School; Agriculture Biotechnology at Oviedo High School; and Firefighting at Winter Springs High School. Hilliard noted that work-based learning, internships and industry certifications are intended to give students credentials and real-world experience before graduation.

Dr. Williams told the board the district is participating in an ASCA pilot that provides training valued at $500,000 over two years to expand direct counseling services and comprehensive K–12 career planning. "This pilot is worth $500,000 in training over the next 2 years, and it's enhancing direct services through comprehensive K through 12 planning," Dr. Williams said. She described district steps to introduce career awareness as early as kindergarten, including classroom lessons that connect students' interests to career clusters and the use of Xello as an online career-planning platform.

District staff also described middle-school LEAP courses (Learning pathways, Exploring pathways, Advancing pathways), which require students to develop a career plan in Xello, and middle-school classroom activities used to build awareness and skills. Jason Lobley, technical assistant specialist with Florida’s PBIS project at the University of South Florida, congratulated the district’s PBIS implementers and noted model-school criteria focused on fidelity and improved behavioral outcomes. The district recognized 20 PBIS model schools for Tier 1 fidelity and low discipline rates, up from 16 the previous year.

The board heard introductions and personnel items: Paula Hagen was introduced as the district’s new MSAP coordinator in the ePathways department. Staff and board members commended the CTE and counseling teams; several board members called out the early career-exploration emphasis and synergies between counselors and CTE staff.

On procedural business, Superintendent Beeman noted two addendum items were removed from the agenda (RFP for insurance consulting, listed as item 6(h), and RFP for professional legislative advocacy, listed as item 4(i).) The board approved the agenda and later approved the consent agenda and student disciplinary recommendations; those votes were recorded by voice and passed without roll-call tallies being read into the record.

The meeting also included multiple recognitions — a veteran-of-the-month presentation and CTE student awards — along with PBIS model-school plaques distributed to representatives from honored schools. Public comment included remarks about meeting conduct and a request that the board review specific district policies; public commenters' statements did not result in board action at the meeting.

The board did not take additional policy votes on CTE or counseling items at this meeting; presentations were informational and staff described next steps for implementation and data tracking.

At the close of the meeting the board approved routine items and disciplinary recommendations and adjourned at 7:03 p.m.