LUDLOW — Ludlow Public Schools has added another tool to help students to find out what career they want to pursue in life. As of this fall, students have the opportunity to be mentored by professionals in the field of their choice through River East School to Career.
River East School to Career operates under the oversight of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is part of the statewide “connecting activities” initiative. The initiative was created to accomplish goals set out in the Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 and the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. Since its inception over 20 years ago, River East School to Career has partnered with eight high schools and more than 300 businesses in Hampden and Worcester counties.
Through River East School to Career and the other programs like it in Massachusetts, school departments are connected with guest speakers, career fairs and businesses that are willing to mentor students. River East Schools to Career Partnership Coordinator Any Scribner described it as the intersection of “time, talent and treasure.”
River East begins by providing age-appropriate information on career options to students in the fifth and sixth grade. By senior year, students can participate in work-based learning opportunities with professionals in a variety of fields. Scribner said the mentorship opportunities are student-led. If a student expresses interest in a career that is not yet a part of the program, the school’s career coordinator — at Ludlow High School it is School Counselor Maria Lekarczyk — contacts River East and they work to find a business in that field that is willing to mentor the student.
“We think its important to provide opportunities for real-world experience,” Lekarczyk said.
Ludlow Public Schools Superintendent Frank Tiano said the School Department had previously partnered with River East School to Career but had taken a hiatus of several years. Lekarczyk explained there had not been funding for a career coordinator.
“It’s all about giving out kids opportunities,” Tiano said. “Deciding what you want to do or maybe what you don’t want to do.” As an example, he said, “You spend some time in a dental office or and engineering company and say, ‘That’s not for me.’”
Scribner said, “We can’t expect them to know what they want to be when they grow up. It’s about exploring what the field is and talking to the mentor about what their experiences have been.”
That said, Scribner added, “It’s more than just career exploration. It’s critical skills — the communication, the empathy, the teamwork, the work ethic.”
Tiano also said that the “soft skills” grown through the partnerships are important, such as “how to be on time, how to shake hands, how to be professional.” Experiencing those lessons outside of a school environment is impactful, he said.
River East “allows students to make the right choices for them, whatever that may be and provides them the resources to do that,” Scribner said.
The mentorship schedule is worked out on a case-by-case basis, depending on what is possible for the student and the business where they are mentored. The students work in the field with their mentor for five hours each week and receive one elective credit per semester. Students can participate for one semester or for the year.
This semester, three students are participating in the program. Two additional students are expected to participate next semester. Both Tiano and Lekarczyk said they expect that number to grow in future semesters due to word of mouth. Lekarczyk said other schools that work with River East School to Career have assured her that the program numbers increase over the first few years. She said the other schools have up to 20 students participating. Tiano said that so far, River East School to Career has connected the School Department with 15 local businesses interested in mentoring students, from manufacturing facilities to a dental office.
River East School to Career has added to the learning, training and mentor opportunities Ludlow students have already been engaged in. The counselors also use a program named Naviance to help students figure out how to pursue their interests and goals. As Tiano put it, “What electives can I take to lead me toward that?”
Tiano said students who express an interest in pursuing athletics or education can be mentored by the school’s athletic director or a teacher within the school department.
In addition, as a member of the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, Ludlow students have the opportunity to receive technical skills training through LPVEC’s vocational Career and Technical Education Center program. Tiano explained that students leave the school campus for a morning or afternoon session at CTEC, while receiving their academic instruction at Ludlow High School.
Scribner said she has “so many stories” about students finding successful career paths through the River East School to Career program. In one example, a student who was interested in becoming a funeral director was mentored and is now in college to pursue a career in that field. The college they attend is working with the mentor business to develop a curriculum. As another example, Scribner said a now-graduated Palmer High School student wanted to be mentored in a medical field. Now on their way to becoming a registered nurse, they and their mentor was recently featured in Baystate Health’s newsletter.
“We are fortunate to have River East in our area,” Tiano said.
