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High-school staff outline 'Explore–Prepare–Demonstrate' pathways to improve scheduling and career readiness
Summary
District counselors presented a redesigned Pathways model to help freshmen explore options, sophomores/juniors prepare, and seniors demonstrate skills via internships, certificates and dual credit. Staff plans a Pathways website, parent/student surveys, and a December deadline to finalize materials for next year's forecasting.
High‑school counselors and administrators told the Crook County School District board they have redesigned the Pathways initiative to give students clearer sequences of coursework and easier access to internships and dual credit opportunities.
Presenters described an "Explore, Prepare, Demonstrate" structure: freshmen take introductory classes to explore multiple career and academic options; sophomores and juniors take progressively rigorous coursework to prepare for post‑secondary work or college; seniors demonstrate skills through capstone projects, internships or dual‑credit coursework. The presenters said the model aims to increase "rigor, relevance and schedule clarity" and to prevent juniors and seniors from being stuck in entry-level classes with freshmen.
The team outlined outreach steps including a new Pathways website, parent and student surveys launched this month, and use of the ASVAB as a career skills profiler for sophomores. Presenter Sean said the counseling team will meet with students by grade level (freshmen first, sophomores after the ASVAB, juniors during career class), and that early surveys show about 40% of surveyed students plan to pursue college. "We want every child in Crook County to know their options," the presenter said. Survey responses will be used to target opportunities and pull lists of interested students for apprenticeships and internships.
Board members raised concerns about not funneling students into premature commitments. Presenters emphasized flexibility: freshmen can sample multiple intro classes and change pathways as they develop new interests. Staff proposed completing materials and graphics by December to update forecasting forms and printed guides for next year.
The board praised the approach and asked staff to return with finalized forms, sample forecasting schedules and outreach plans for middle‑school counselors to begin eighth‑grade forecasting earlier in the year.
