ARTICLE
By Mary Gaukel Forster Costanoa High School has always been a warm, friendly landing place for students that did not find a match, were not successful, in their prior school. Two years ago, after teaching an entrepreneurship class at Costanoa, Mary Gaukel Forster proposed that Costanoa transform to Costanoa Career Prep High School providing opportunities and identity for students. With the complete support from Santa Cruz City Schools, Costanoa began the transformation to a Career Prep High School during the 24-25 school year. Students are now provided with Career Awareness, Career Exploration, Career Preparation, and Career Training. Advisors are career coaches and talent scouts for their students. Learning is structured to student interests, students leave to learn, and are supported by “real world” mentors. Career Awareness includes identifying possible careers through surveys of interests, skills, and values. Students then engage with on-line career investigation, career speakers, and job site visits. As students identify possible careers, they then explore those careers through research projects, informational interviews, mentorships, and job shadows. The next step is Career preparation which includes experiences with careers out in the community. The final opportunities for Career Preparation include internships and jobs in their chosen career paths. Costanoa Career Prep High School principal, Cindy Parris, would like to invite you to partner with our school to inspire and prepare students to join the workforce of Santa Cruz County. You can be part of our team by being a career speaker, hosting a job shadow, being a mentor, and providing on-site career experiences. You will find this a rewarding opportunity as you ensure an engaged and capable future workforce. We also encourage you to hire students holding the Costanoa Job Ready Certificate. Students holding this certificate have demonstrated that they show up, show up on time, ready to work, and are productive. For more information and to volunteer: Cindy Parris, Principal, cynthiaparris@sccs.net Sheri Williams, Career Preparation Counselor, sherylwilliams@sccs.net
By Mary Gaukel Forster
Costanoa High School has always been a warm, friendly landing place for students that did not find a match, were not successful, in their prior school. Two years ago, after teaching an entrepreneurship class at Costanoa, Mary Gaukel Forster proposed that Costanoa transform to Costanoa Career Prep High School providing opportunities and identity for students. With the complete support from Santa Cruz City Schools, Costanoa began the transformation to a Career Prep High School during the 24-25 school year.
Students are now provided with Career Awareness, Career Exploration, Career Preparation, and Career Training. Advisors are career coaches and talent scouts for their students. Learning is structured to student interests, students leave to learn, and are supported by “real world” mentors.
Career Awareness includes identifying possible careers through surveys of interests, skills, and values. Students then engage with on-line career investigation, career speakers, and job site visits. As students identify possible careers, they then explore those careers through research projects, informational interviews, mentorships, and job shadows. The next step is Career preparation which includes experiences with careers out in the community. The final opportunities for Career Preparation include internships and jobs in their chosen career paths.
Costanoa Career Prep High School principal, Cindy Parris, would like to invite you to partner with our school to inspire and prepare students to join the workforce of Santa Cruz County. You can be part of our team by being a career speaker, hosting a job shadow, being a mentor, and providing on-site career experiences. You will find this a rewarding opportunity as you ensure an engaged and capable future workforce.
We also encourage you to hire students holding the Costanoa Job Ready Certificate. Students holding this certificate have demonstrated that they show up, show up on time, ready to work, and are productive.
For more information and to volunteer: Cindy Parris, Principal, cynthiaparris@sccs.net Sheri Williams, Career Preparation Counselor, sherylwilliams@sccs.net