Don't know where to start? Determine your school and community needs.
Pathway programs should align to a livable wage and high-demand careers to prepare students for their chosen post-high school paths. In order to design and develop quality pathways that fit the needs of the community and students, pathway leadership must examine many facets of the current state of their school and community. Use these tools to get your students on the right pathways to serve your specific community needs!
Build your coalition.
Organizing cross-community support is an important foundation of building pathways. Many leaders across sectors can be key in supporting and informing the pathway vision and are vital to the success of students’ chosen post-high school paths.
Commit to a vision and goals.
Utilizing identified gaps from needs assessment(s), leadership and stakeholders should develop a vision, mission, goals, and strategies. This tool may be useful to capture your goals and strategies.
Co-communicate the Vision.
Establishing a clear communications plan is important in presenting a community-wide commitment. Involve all partners by encouraging partners to post graphics and materials on their websites and social media, consider creating a joint statement, and even co-authoring press-releases.
Help stakeholders see the need.
Creating a local “Case for Pathways” that aligns with your school & community vision & mission may be a great first step for your pathway leadership. Pathway leadership refers to the group of change agents advocating for a move into a pathway for all model. To learn more about the need for career-focused education, visit “The Need – Why systems of pathways lead to success for students”
SuccessBound Stories
Victorious Jones is SuccessBound!
Victorious Jones just finished middle school, but she’s already taking steps toward a career in medicine through a partnership between OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, a health service provider and the second-largest employer in the community, Marion City Schools and Marion Technical College. The partners are deeply committed to helping students prepare for and secure in-demand jobs. This partnership is a model for what SuccessBound inspires: strong communities working together.
Learn More About Victorious!
Meet Myra James-Fernandez
Myra James-Fernandez, 14, dreams of becoming a pediatrician, and the SuccessBound approach in Marion is helping her get a jump-start on that dream.
Marion City Schools’ early college high school model allows students like Myra to take advantage of College Credit Plus to earn an associate degree in her career field of interest before graduating high school. Beginning in ninth grade, students can take classes at Marion Technical College for free and earn college credits toward associate degrees.
Learn More About Myra!