Paving the Path to Careers in Trade
BEF NEWS
Paving the Path to Careers in Trade
Sunday, February 20th, 2022
Beaverton Education Foundation wants all kids to thrive and prepare for a bright future, which is one reason why we have expanded opportunities for students to learn about careers in the trades. BEF partners with the Beaverton School District to expand awareness of career technical tracks available in high school, focusing on giving middle school students a chance to try out various trades such as construction and auto tech.
“I work with a lot of students who have difficulty seeing a clear path between their academic experience and what’s going to happen to them after school,” says Janine Weir, who leads the District’s high school success coordination and development efforts. “If you show them options and let them try out the trades like construction and auto tech, it can open their eyes to new options and set them on a path toward better paying jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree.”
Helping students see how school can prepare them to go on to careers in high paying fields can increase the meaning and relevance of school and help reduce dropout rates. At the same time, industry partners are clamoring for new graduates who are ready to enter the skilled labor force, which helps bolster the regional economy.
With this in mind, in summer 2019 BEF kicked off a partnership with the District when 30 students joined the Middle School Trades Exploration Pilot Program. The students mastered design, demolition, drywall, carpentry and concrete work, all while team building and repairing and beautifying a concrete curb area at the District’s central office.
By the end of the summer, they learned equipment safety, industry safety procedures, construction math skills, basic drafting, design and building techniques. They were also more excited about both school and the possibilities of a career in the trades.
“When the students came in, they were shy and unsure, but curious,” says Jonathan Hauben, the career and technical education (CTE) construction technology teacher at Community School at Merlo Station, who taught the 2019 summer program. “Then they got in the groove and thought, ‘We can do this!’ I could see that spark of enlightenment on their faces. Seeing a project through to completion is very satisfying for them.”
During remote learning in early 2021, BEF worked with dedicated teachers and staff to deliver woodworking kits to middle schoolers for an at-home, hands-on learning experience. The kits contained all the tools and supplies needed to complete three beginning woodworking projects. When they returned for hybrid learning that spring, they completed more complex projects in the classroom.
Now that students are back in-person full time, BEF is supporting a year-long program in which 140 middle school students receive construction industry-specific occupational skills training. They attend special “pull out” sessions at the Merlo High School Construction Tech Lab where lessons and hands-on skill practice give them a comprehensive understanding of several trades. They also visit the Auto Tech lab at Aloha High School.
“Without BEF’s support, we wouldn’t be able to focus on this pipeline from middle school to high school to careers,” says Weir. “It’s the only funding we have that gives us the freedom to pursue this programming to start connecting with middle school students early so we can continue those conversations about the trades and careers through high school.”
The Trades Exploration program was made possible by the Spirit Mountain Community Fund. Additional support has come from Intel, Genentech, Portland General Electric, New Seasons Market, U.S. Bank, Comcast, INLINE Commercial Construction, Parr Lumber-Raleigh Hills, Oh Planning + Design and Key Event Services.
