When parents of London students in grades 6-12 attend parent-teacher conferences later this month, they may notice more of a career focus. This is because of a revamped strategy for preparing students for success in colleges and careers. Under the district’s revised career advising policy, students will use newly adopted college and career planning tools to explore interests, aptitudes, and possible career paths. This information will then be documented in a student success plan which will become a guide for future academic planning. The plan will be updated twice a year in order to be shared with parents during conferences.
Over the past few years, London has made a concerted effort to demonstrate direct links between academic coursework and future success. Besides greatly expanding its support of students in College Credit Plus programs, London also launched an internship program in which students receive high school credit for work experience related to their interests. The district published its Portrait of a Graduate last year, which outlined skillsets and mindsets needed for success in college and careers and has integrated these skills across the curriculum. LCS has also placed a greater emphasis on problem-based learning and building STEM programs in each school in order to reinforce such skills.
In order to bring all of these efforts together, London repurposed a current position, to create a College and Career Readiness Coordinator in time for the 2020-2021 school year. London’s first College and Career Readiness Coordinator is long time LHS counselor Betsy Dennis. Mrs. Dennis’s long-time district ties will assist her not only in maintaining wonderful relationships with students, faculty, and colleges but also with local businesses.