SMITHFIELD – Johnston County Public Schools’ Summer Career Accelerator Program wraps up at the end of July, with more than 360 student participants in grades 6-12.
Spanning over the course of six weeks, this program offers real-world learning experiences aligned to workforce needs. Throughout the program, students connect with teachers and local employers to explore career pathways and prepare for the world of work.
Since the program began on June 11th, students from across Johnston County have convened at 14 locations including schools, local chambers of commerce, and employer partner sites to engage in hands-on educational experiences. The experiences include Career Investigations Labs, Public Safety Camp, the entrepreneurial-focused program StartUp High, District C Teamships, and Math to Careers.
These experiences include networking opportunities with employers, and durable skills training to support students’ readiness for life after graduation. In partnership with Johnston Community College (JCC), the school district provided scholarships for students to attend JCC’s summer camps offering exposure to culinary, robotics, and biotechnology careers.
In addition to summer camps, 11th and 12th grade students are participating in JOCO WORKS NOW summer internships at various locations across the county as part of the Summer Career Accelerator Program. Participating internship employers include: Clayton Chamber, Joaos List LLC, KS Bank, Restor3D, Commwell Health, Gentiva Hospice, AdVenture Development, UNC Health Johnston, YMCA Camp Kanata, Benchmark Physical Therapy, and Johnston Community College.
According to Kathryn Farrior, JCPS Career & Technical Education (CTE) Workforce Development Specialist, “Internships allow our students to immerse themselves in the workforce, deepening their understanding of the career-specific knowledge and skills while their post-secondary plans take shape.”
“We have received tremendous feedback from students, parents, educators, and partnering organizations regarding our summer career accelerator programs,” reports JCPS Director of CTE, Reno Palombit. “When possible we have used grant funds to provide meals and transportation to remove barriers to participation. And, it is all made possible with the support of our community employers and workforce partners.”
JCPS boasts a robust career readiness program and prides itself on developing students who are ready to launch into a career following school. However, the district understands the value of partnering with organizations with the same goal. “We cannot prepare students for careers alone. We rely on community-minded employers who are willing to work with us to provide relevant and rigorous experiential learning opportunities”, stated Palombit.
JCPS’s Summer Career Accelerator programs are funded through North Carolina’s State Plan for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund. To learn more about career development and Career & Technical Education in Johnston County Public Schools, visit cteinjoco.info.
