Edwardsburg students describe career-center pathways that lead to certifications and jobs

Edwardsburg Public Schools board meeting — Students who attend the Elkhart Area Career Center described how career and technical education programs have translated into certifications, college credits and employment opportunities.

At the start of the district’s program update, a presenter identified in the transcript as Mr. Marshall said the district has partnered with the career center for more than 30 years and sends about 60 juniors and seniors annually to programs in health sciences, engineering, technology, public safety, agriculture, hospitality and skilled trades. "We send 60 juniors and seniors every year to the career center where they engage in career and technical education that's gonna allow them to advance in the real world," he said.

Student speakers highlighted program specifics and outcomes. Cale Myers described the drone technology and precision-agriculture program and listed multiple credentials the class provides, saying, "The class is really amazing" and noting students earn a drone license, OSHA-10, Ivy Tech credits and other certificates alongside frequent on- and off-campus fieldwork such as soil sampling. "The class really benefits me... I will be able to utilize them a lot in the future," Myers said.

Gail Coleman, a second-year career-center student, said she switched from cardiology/EMT to criminal justice and recently earned a jail certification that could allow her to work in a corrections role straight out of high school. "EACC has strengthened my passion for this career," Coleman said.

Another student, recorded in the transcript as Raylyn Fields, described the dental-health program, listed CPR and radiography/NELDA/expanded-functions certifications in progress, and said she is a paid intern at an oral surgeon’s office and "has been offered a full time job at Oral Surgery Michigan to be an expanded functions dental assistant right out of high school." She told the board the certifications and on-the-job experience make her optimistic about immediate employment.

Mr. Marshall and the board thanked the students and emphasized local workforce benefits, noting that some career-center instructors are district alumni and that graduates have been in demand by local employers. The presenter invited questions; none were offered on the record.

The board’s materials and the remarks on the record indicate the district plans to continue the partnership and said it will highlight CTE program findings at an upcoming board infrastructure work session.