Pathways to Success in Darlington County

1. Pathways to Success in Darlington County Implementing EEDA requirements for Middle School Career Specialists

2. The School-to-Work Act of 1994 • 14 Elementary Schools were being assisted by a Career Technician. • 3 Middle Schools and 5 High Schools were being assisted by a Career Technician. • The first sixth grade class completed the EWOW and created their career folders in 1996. • 4 year plans were being done with 8th graders in 1998.

3. Pathways to Success in Darlington County • Pathways to Success Programs was begun in 2005 in anticipation of the passage of the EEDA. • Programs and lesson plans already in place were supplemented with new ideas and expectations for the future. • The structure of Pathways to Success was built. • Marketing campaign was designed. • Transitions were readied for huge changes in Darlington County School District.

4. Changes in Darlington County School District • Darlington County traded in their junior high schools and embraced the idea of Middle Schools. • 2 new large Middle Schools were built and 2 other Middle schools were upgraded for smaller populations. • Darlington County Institute of Technology was constructed at the same time.

5. Breakdown of Schools • 14 Elementary Schools • 4 Middle Schools • 5 High Schools

6. Breakdown of Middle Schools • Rosenwald Elementary/Middle School • K-8 -300 students (1 CDF certified Counselor) • Spaulding Middle School • 6-8 -300 students (1 CDF certified Counselor)

7. Breakdown of Middle Schools • Darlington Middle School • 6-8 -1200 students(3 Counselors-2 CDF certified) (1 Career Specialist) • Hartsville Middle School • 6-8 1200+ students (3 Counselors-no CDF cert.) (1 Career Specialist)

8. Hartsville Middle School • 422 returning Eighth graders. • 407 all new Seventh graders. • 408 all new Sixth graders. • One half of faculty and staff are all new. • Logistics became our biggest adversary. • Traffic patterns inside and out. • Technology availability was limited. • Time runs out for IGP Conferences.

9. Pathways Lab • 14 Depco Module Stations available for pairs of students. • 9 week exploratory course. • Each nine weeks there are 2 sixth grade classes, 2 seventh grade classes and 2 eighth grade classes. • Each nine weeks students can explore 3 different modules.

10. In Spite of the problems: • Eighth graders… • 400+ • Have SCOIS.net accounts. • Have completed a Career Cluster Survey. • 322 • Took Explore for the first time. • 200 • Have completed IGP conferences with parent present. • Have authorization signed for conferences with designee.

11. In Spite of the problems • Seventh graders… • 350+ • Have SCOIS.net accounts. • Have completed a Career Cluster Survey.

12. In Spite of the Problems • Sixth graders… • 300+ • Have SCOIS.net accounts.

13. Work-Based ExperiencesGrades 6-8 • Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Event • 515 students participated. • 365+ businesses participated. • Virtual Job Shadowing • 200+ SCOIS Occupational Videos viewed. • Service Learning • 220+ Students participated in Relay for Life.

14. Looking Forward We would like to… • Find ways to educate our teachers about career development. • Incorporate more Career related activities in Advisor/Advisee time (Real Game, HEAP CDs, ACRN activities, etc.). • Find more ways to incorporate career development into classroom teaching. • Add a Career/College Corner in Library. • Have more Career Events and Speakers .

15. What Would We Do Differently • Begin the SCOIS process earlier with all grade levels. • Schedule the IGP conferences earlier with a week in between for make-up conferences and time to get caught up on other matters. • Re-design the Career Folders.

16. Contact Us Jackie Collum GCDF, CDFI Career Specialist Darlington County School District Hartsville Middle School 1427 Fourteenth Street Hartsville, SC 29550 Office 843-857-3017 FAX 843-857-3030 jackiec1@darlington.k12.sc.us