November is National Career Awareness Month

ACT WorkKeys

• Please provide Chad Aucoin with a copy of your ACT WorkKeys testing calendar, your ACT WorkKeys contact person, and a list of any instructors outside of Virtual Workplace Experience II and ACT Prep that you would like trained. 

• We will begin offering monthly virtual support sessions for teachers utilizing this platform to excel our students forward

• Suggestion: As students pass ACT WorkKeys earning a Silver or higher, have this data inputted into JCampus so that your Thrive data reports are reflective of where you are currently progressing. 

Saturday IBC Classes: 

• Current Class: Senior Phlebotomy running October-November 2025 (15 students enrolled in medical classes were selected.  Students earn $500 for attending all classes and passing the industry based credential. 

• Upcoming Classes: We will add a spring Phlebotomy session. We will also work with schools to offer Saturday classes based on current senior data and what they would need to add to earn an Advanced or Basic Bundle.  More information coming soon! 

Industry Based Credential Updates: 

• Business of Retail + Customer Service is now considered a Basic Bundle.  We are working to ensure our business teachers are either offering all 3 CIW to get CIW Web Foundations (Advanced) or both Business of Retail & Customer Service (Basic Bundle).  This will meet the Acceleration component of Thrive for your SPS. 

Recruitment and Promotion: 

• • The team will be scheduling time to meet with each current 9-11th grade to share your school pathways, offer opportunities through CTEC and community partners for pathways not offered at your site, share graduation requirements, career exploration resources, Fast Forward summer programs, and summer/fall/spring Internship opportunities.  

  • Current 9th-10th* Graders: School Pathways, CTEC, Fast Forward Summer

  • Current 11th* Graders: School Pathways, CTEC, Fast Forward Summer or Internship

  • *Current 10th and 11th grader will have an opportunity to apply to ABC Pelican (Welding, Millwright, Pipe Fitting, & Electrical) through the CTEC application portal. 

High School Master Schedules: 

• Make sure you are updating your course progression document to align with College and Career Pathways, creating your course request forms and reach out for support at needed from Mara Girona-Dodd (mgirona@ebrschools.org). 

November is National Career Awareness Month, and while career exploration is something we strive to incorporate into our daily lessons and interactions, this month provides a great opportunity to be especially intentional in helping our students explore their future pathways.

Below are suggested activities and resources you can use to enhance career exposure and exploration for our students throughout the month:

Elementary

• Coordinate a field trip to a feeder middle school.

• Incorporate career awareness activities into classroom lessons.

• Share your stories and activities on social media to celebrate student engagement.

Middle School

• Plan a field trip to the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC).

• Organize a campus tour highlighting various career pathways.

• Facilitate 8th grade field trips to feeder high schools.

• Implement eReadiness lessons.

• Utilize the Ready for Industry Resource Page for engaging materials.

• Explore Career Waves to connect students with pathway and post-training opportunities.

• Share your stories and activities on social media.

• HS Opportunities Presentation, Student Handouts, Louisiana Workforce Commission Activity 

High School

• Plan field trips to vocational centers, colleges, and universities.

• Invite guest speakers to share real-world experiences.

• Collaborate with Workforce Development, who will be visiting campuses to support:

  • Graduation goal-setting

  • Career awareness and available pathways (including CTEC recruitment for pathways not currently offered for grades 9–11)

  • Summer and Fall/Spring 2026–2027 Internship opportunities (Class of 2027)

  • Fast Forward Summer 2026 IBC and stipend opportunities (all current 9–11th graders)

• Incorporate eReadiness lessons.

• Use the Ready for Industry Resource Page.

• Explore Career Waves for pathway and post-training opportunities.

• Share your stories and activities on social media.

• HS Opportunities Presentation, Student Handouts, Louisiana Workforce Commission Activity 

Additional Resource

• Celebrate National Career Development Month – Science4Us

See additional resources and links below.  

As always, we are here to support! 

ARB

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual global initiative dedicated to promoting online safety and vigilance. The Louisiana Department of Education officially recognizes this month and provides excellent resources to help our students and educators understand and practice strong digital safety.

Think of cybersecurity as the digital foundation of our schools. Just like we secure our physical buildings, we must secure our virtual spaces. This month is a perfect opportunity to refresh our understanding of smart online habits, ensuring we keep sensitive student and staff data safe and maintain an uninterrupted learning environment, guided by the resources the LDOE provides.

To support this effort, the LDOE has curated and shared key resources covering topics like social media safety, AI security, phishing prevention, and secure password management.

We encourage participation in this awareness campaign. 

Here are ways you can Gear Up and strengthen student’s digital knowledge by using these official resources:

LDOE Digital Citizenship - Cybersecurity for Students: Tailored content to teach students best practices.

LDOE Digital Citizenship and AI (Secondary Students): Focuses on the unique security challenges presented by artificial intelligence. 

CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month Resources: A comprehensive toolkit from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

Know Be4 Cybersecurity Awareness Toolkit: Provides free tools and content to help you build a security culture.

Careers in Construction

Overview

The construction industry offers a wide range of high-demand, high-wage careers that build the world around us—from homes and schools to roads, bridges, and commercial spaces. Careers in this field allow students to develop technical, problem-solving, and leadership skills while contributing to essential projects in their communities.

Key Pathways in Construction

• Carpentry – building structures, frameworks, and detailed woodwork.

• Electrical – wiring, lighting, and power systems.

• Plumbing & Pipefitting – water, gas, and heating systems.

• Welding & Metal Fabrication – joining and shaping metals for structures and equipment.

• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) – installing and maintaining climate-control systems.

• Heavy Equipment Operation – operating machinery for large-scale construction.

• Project Management & Estimating – planning, scheduling, and overseeing construction projects.

• Architecture & Engineering – designing and developing blueprints and structures.

Industry Outlook

• High demand for skilled workers.

• Opportunities to earn Industry-Based Credentials (IBCs) and apprenticeships.

• Pathways to entrepreneurship, supervisory roles, and union membership.

• Strong earning potential without requiring a traditional 4-year degree.

Suggested Activities

Elementary Level

• Building Blocks Challenge: Students use blocks, LEGOs, or recyclables to design structures.

• Career Dress-Up Day: Invite students to dress as construction workers or engineers.

• Story Time: Read books about building and construction (e.g., Iggy Peck, Architect).

Middle School Level

• Hands-On Projects: Birdhouse, toolbox, or simple woodwork activity.

• Math in Construction: Practice measuring, angles, and area using real-world construction examples.

• Career Guest Speaker: Invite a local carpenter, electrician, or welder to talk about their work.

• Virtual Job Tours: Explore construction careers through online videos and VR simulations.

High School Level

• Site Visits: Tour a construction site or technical training center (CTEC, BRCC).

• Job Shadowing: Pair students with professionals in carpentry, welding, or electrical fields.

• Apprenticeship Exploration: Connect with local trade unions or training providers.

• Certifications: Introduce NCCER Core, OSHA 10, or entry-level IBC opportunities.

• Project-Based Learning: Students design and build a small structure, such as a shed or garden bench.