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'Careers on Wheels' brings hands‑on career exploration to fourth graders, organizers say
Summary
Lenoir County’s Careers on Wheels engaged students with community partners — about 95 presenters and 586 fourth‑graders participated — to expose children to a range of jobs and career pathways.
Lenoir County Public Schools described a district initiative to introduce career awareness as early as kindergarten and to provide hands‑on exploration in fourth grade through the “Careers on Wheels” event, which district staff said drew approximately 95 community participants and 586 students this year.
Career and workforce development coordinator Mrs. Collins told the board the program is part of a continuum that starts in elementary grades and uses platforms such as MajorClarity to give students multi‑year exposure to career pathways. Fourth graders complete a career interest survey and then take two years of classroom lessons that map interests to career clusters such as STEM, agriculture, health care, law/public safety and government.
At the Careers on Wheels event, Collins said, roughly 75 businesses were contacted in planning and about 95 community members — including municipal and county staff, business owners and military representatives — participated representing about 45 distinct careers. Students tried on gear, sat in vehicles and examined equipment from agencies including forestry, emergency services and utilities; Collins said presentations are hands‑on so students can touch tools and equipment.
Collins described the event as part of the district’s strategic plan to expand career awareness earlier than historically provided, with the goal that earlier exposure will increase student awareness of realistic local career ladders. "We hope that they'll come back, and work with us, and be, continue to be part of our community," Collins said of the students.
Board members asked logistical questions; staff confirmed the event was not all day and that district transportation and meal service were provided for participating students.
