Career Programs

Hollidaysburg  2003-2004 Award Winning Program- Word  / Acrobat

Twin Valley School District, Elverson, PA:

Kathy Bean, School-to-Career Coordinator for the Twin Valley School District, Elverson, and PA 19520, outlines the Twin Valley High School School-to-Career Program:

"Twin Valley High School has launched a new School-to-Career program to help all students explore and make informed decisions about their future careers. Ninth grade students work with their school counselors, use the computers in the Career Resource Center, and participate in business tours to explore various careers. This research culminates in an oral presentation given in their English class.

All high school students are encouraged to participate in job shadowing experiences. This program allows students a chance to visit a variety of workplaces, and to observe and ask questions of individual workers. The experience helps them to see if they would enjoy working in a particular career.

Juniors and seniors are able to participate in unpaid internships that involve release time from school during study halls. This program allows students to get first-hand experience in a career field, to make valuable contacts, and to receive high school credit. Students are evaluated by their mentor in the workplace and also by one of the School-to-Career coordinators at the high school.

The cooperative education program continues to be a significant way that seniors become involved in the School-to-Career program. Required classes are taken in the morning and participants are released early from school to work in career-related jobs. Students receive a salary and credits toward graduation.

Twin Valley employs two School-to-Career coordinators - Mrs. Kathy Bean and Mrs. Angela Madonna. Area businesses interested in participating in the School-to-Career program through career tours, shadowing, internships, or paid co-op positions are encouraged to contact Twin Valley High School. Twin Valley's goal is to have all students thinking about and exploring different career areas to better prepare for the future!"

We thank Kathy for sharing the Twin Valley program with PSCA and for offering to speak with school counselors interested in any aspect of the School-to-Career initiative. Kathy may be reached at Twin Valley High School, 102 N. Twin Valley Road, Elverson, PA 19520 or by telephone at (610) 286-8638.