Career Education

Mission of Career Education
To provide career education experiences that develops abilities for lifelong learning, earning, and living.

Personal Learning Plans (PLP’s)
Personal Learning Plans for all students grade 7-12 provide an opportunity to layout realistic plans for their future with students and parents. Papillion La Vista Community Schools utilized the Nebraska Career Connection website (www.nebraksacareerconnections.org) as a tool for students and parents to work together on individual learning plans and to do career research. By using the student’s username and password, parents can see and discuss their students learning plan.

PLP’s are flexible. They do not lock a student into a permanent plan. In fact, the opposite is true. Proactive planning will put the student into a position where they are prepared to keep his/her option open. PLP’s that are centered around the fields/clusters emphasize the importance of education and career planning.

Career Fields and Career Clusters
Papillion La Vista Community Schools utilizes the “Career Field” and “Career Cluster” model that was developed by the Nebraska Career Education (www.nebraskacareerconnections.org) division of the Nebraska Department of Education. The model is a tool that can be used by students, parents, employers and those in the educational system to help understand how curriculum relates to the career opportunities from which students will choose, and for which schools must prepare them for.

At the center of the model are the core “foundation knowledge and skills” that each student is expected to learn. They are surrounded by the six different career fields, and then the 16 career clusters. Clusters further break down into “career pathways” (indicated with the red dots) and then can be listed into more than 500 specific occupations.
The Goals of offering Career Clusters is to provide:

• Programs of study that combine academic and career education curricula
• Contextual learning delivered through a rigorous, and relevant curriculum
• Hands-on learning experiences
• World-of-work application of academic and technical skills
• Assessment of academic, technical, and workplace competency knowledge and skill attainment
• Student-led leadership and personal development experiences
• Clear transition from secondary to postsecondary education including advanced placement, dual credit, certification, and a jump start on postsecondary credits

Career Education Student Organizations
Papillion La Vista High Schools offer several Career Education Student Organizations (CSO’s).
CSO’s provide students with opportunities to:

• Develop and practice their leadership skills.
• Become involved in community service opportunities.
• Develop employability skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, team work, accepting responsibility, and follow-through with assigned tasks.
• Develop job seeking skills such as developing a resume, interviewing, and performance review skills.
• Explore majors and occupations in their career pathways.

DECA: An Association of Marketing Students
The organization’s objective is to develop future leaders in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship through its competitive events and scholarship programs.

FBLA: Future Business Leaders of America
Bringing business and education together in a positive working relationship, FBLA provides students with the skills needed to successfully compete in the job market, pursue further education, or manage personal skills.

HOSA: Health Occupations Students of America
HOSA holds annual leadership conferences at the national and state levels that feature competition in nearly 50 healthcare skills. HOSA views the activities of high school chapters as extensions of classroom healthcare education.

SkillsUSA:
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Activities in local chapters revolve around preparation for competitions in a broad range of leadership and career skills.