Old Saybrook Pathway Coordinators connect students, families, staff, and the community to opportunities and resources that help students explore their interests, develop skills, set goals, and create an individualized path through and beyond OSHS.

Our work builds on the PK-12 pathway experience: Foundations → Exploration → Direction

Specifically, at the high school level, we help students turn what they have learned about themselves into meaningful goals, experiences, connections, and next steps. Support students’ transition into adulthood with hands-on learning, academic depth, and postsecondary direction.

School of Student Support Services

Sarah Fawcett

School of Business and Hospitality

Melissa Martin

School of Humanities

Koren Torre-Reilly

School of the Arts

Jeremy Taylor

School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturting

Karen Dionne

School of Medical Science and Wellness

Amber Scherber

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Who We Support

Students: Explore strengths and interests, set goals, and build a flexible plan through courses, experiences, and community connections.

Families: Understand how your student’s strengths, interests, and goals connect to opportunities during and beyond OSHS.

Staff: Access resources, partnerships, and professional learning that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.

Community: Partner with OSHS to provide meaningful experiences and introduce students to careers, industries, and opportunities.

Pathway Coordinator Team: Work together to create a consistent PK–12 experience focused on belonging, exploration, readiness, and individualized pathways.

Learn More About Individual Pathways

We are in the process of developing our website and providing up to date information.
If you have any questions regarding this information, contact a pathway coordinator directly for a response.

School of Student Support Services

This pathway is an opportunity for exploration and discovery for students who are unsure about which pathway they would like to pursue. The goal of Support Services is to collaborate with all pathway coordinators to identify and implement interventions and supports that ensure students can access all opportunities available across the various pathways. Students will gain a better understanding of opportunities across all pathways and will be in the best position to make an informed decision about which pathway to pursue.

School of Humanities

The School of Humanities at Old Saybrook High School provides students with opportunities to explore their interests in English, history, government, journalism, communications, law and much more. Through engaging and oftentimes interdisciplinary approaches to coursework students will engage in hand-on projects, community connections, and real world experiences. They will be encouraged to think critically, communicate effectively, and understand the world around them, recognizing how the humanities intersect with other fields and careers along other pathways. Whether a student is considering becoming an educator, a writer, journalist, historian, public servant, psychologist or creative professional, the Humanities Pathway will allow them to explore their passions, develop durable skills, and discover where those interests can take them following high school.

School of the Arts

The OSPS Arts Pathway is for students who want to explore careers in creative fields, including as visual artists, designers, musicians, actors, arts educators, theater technicians, and arts administrators. By connecting students’ high school studies with real world applications, this pathway will make sure that students are engaged in building all required skills to the level they will need to be competitive in the creative marketplace. Additionally, studies in the Fine Arts are especially valuable to all students for the acquisition of Durable Skills. This Pathway will extend those skill-building opportunities to the entire student body.

School of Business and Hospitality

The Business & Hospitality Pathway gives students opportunities to explore careers and experiences in business, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, management, tourism, and hospitality. Students develop skills in areas such as communication, leadership, customer service, financial literacy, problem-solving, teamwork, and professional practices while connecting with local businesses and industry professionals. Students gain a better understanding of how businesses and hospitality organizations operate and the many opportunities available within these industries.

School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturting

The STEM Pathway will allow students to explore the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and manufacturing. Students may choose to specialize in a discipline or combine one or more of the four facets. The science branch will encompass any field of science excluding medicine related fields (see School of Health and Wellness). The program will expose students to different STEM careers, connect learning to local industries and professionals, and provide opportunities to explore potential career pathways through authentic experiences.

School of Medical Science and Wellness

The Medical Science and Wellness Pathway provides students the opportunity to explore careers and experiences in allied health such as emergency medical services. nursing, medicine, public health, as well as wellness careers such as fitness trainer, group exercise class instructor, yoga instructor, nutritionist, registered dietician, corporate wellness manager, massage therapist, health educator, mental health or mindfulness coach. Students develop skills in areas such as client care, communication, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork. professionalism, and health and safety practices while gaining hands-on experience in a realistic healthcare environment. This pathway features an ambulance simulation rig, and hospital beds with simulation manikins that allow students to practice medical procedures, emergency response techniques, patient assessment, and clinical skills. Students will connect what they are learning in the classroom with real life allied health experiences and industry professionals while gaining a better understanding of the plethora of careers and diverse educational opportunities available in the medical science and wellness fields.

News and Updates

Old Saybrook High School adds ambulance bay to medical science classroomOld Saybrook High School students got a preview of new classroom additions as the summer break winds down, including an ambulance integrated into a medical science classroom.

Dr. Miguel Cardona Visits Old Saybrook as Pathways Vision Takes Shape OLD SAYBROOK, CT — Old Saybrook Public Schools welcomed former United States Secretary of Educatio...

Old Saybrook Public Schools to Welcome National Speaker Mark C. Perna on October 8 Old Saybrook Public Schools will welcome nationally recognized speaker, bestselling author, and gen...

Old Saybrook Public Schools Aligns PK–12 Pathways Vision With New Statewide Career Pathways Initiative Old Saybrook, Conn. — As Connecticut moves to strengthen career pathways statewide, Old Saybrook P...

Frequently Asked Questions

Do students have to choose a Pathway?
Students who are ready to focus their interests are encouraged to pursue a specific Pathway and take advantage of the courses and experiences within it. However, students are not locked into one Pathway and can continue exploring other areas as their interests and goals evolve.

What opportunities are available?
Students may participate in guest speakers, career conversations, field trips, job shadows, internships, workplace visits, community partnerships, and other hands-on experiences.

Do I have to be in a certain Pathway to take a class?
No. Students choose courses based on their interests, graduation requirements, and academic plans. Pathways simply help students see how those courses connect to future possibilities.

Can students explore more than one Pathway?
Students are encouraged to explore multiple areas as their interests grow and change.

Here's What You Can Do Next

Students

Pathways are designed to help you connect what you’re learning in school with your interests, strengths, future goals, and possible careers. You’ll have opportunities throughout high school to explore different fields, connect with professionals, participate in hands-on experiences, and learn more about what comes after graduation.

We are currently developing Pathway Curriculum Guides that will map out each pathway and show recommended courses, experiences, and opportunities from grades 9–12. While those guides are being developed, students should use the OSHS Program of Studies/Course Catalog to explore courses connected to their interests and work with their school counselor when planning their schedule.

Explore the OSHS Program of Studies
Talk to Your School Counselor
Email a Pathway Coordinator About an Interest or Opportunity

Parent or Family Member

Pathways give students another way to make connections between their high school experience and what they may want to pursue in the future. Students can explore career fields, build durable and career-ready skills, meet professionals, and participate in experiences that help them make more informed decisions about college, training, careers, and other postsecondary options.

Our team is currently developing Pathway Curriculum Guides that will provide families with a clearer grade 9–12 roadmap for each pathway. In the meantime, we encourage families to review the OSHS Program of Studies/Course Catalog with their student and discuss course selections with their school counselor.

Review the OSHS Program of Studies With Your Student
Learn About Our Pathway Options
Contact Us With Questions

OSPS Staff Member

Pathway Coordinators are here to support, not replace, the work already happening in classrooms. If there is an experience, connection, or resource that could strengthen what you are teaching, we can help make it happen.

That might include identifying a guest speaker, connecting with a local business or organization, coordinating a workplace or field experience, finding a professional who can provide industry insight, or brainstorming ways to bring more real-world application into an existing lesson or unit.

You do not need to have the entire experience planned before reaching out. Tell us what you’re teaching or what you’d like students to experience, and we can help build the connection.

Request a Guest Speaker or Industry Connection
Share an Idea With a Pathway Coordinator
Ask for Support Planning an Experience

Community Member and Alumni

Our Pathways initiative is built on connections between our schools and the community around us. Community members can help students understand the many careers, organizations, skills, and opportunities that exist right here in our area.

There are many ways to participate, whether you have an hour to share your experience with a class, know of an organization students could support, have an idea for a community project, or simply want to start a conversation about how you could become involved.

Tell Us How You’d Like to Get Involved
Share a Community Opportunity
Connect With a Pathway Coordinator

Tradition never graduates! We love hearing where life takes our graduates. Whether you’ve started a career, continued your education, changed directions, or reached a new milestone, your experiences can help inspire current students as they explore their own paths.

Stay connected! Reach out to our Pathway Coordinators to share an update, celebrate a success, or explore ways you can give back and connect with current students. We also welcome graduates back into our programs to share their experiences with current students. If you are interested in connecting and visiting Old Saybrook High School, please let us know.

Business or Industry Professional

You don’t need a formal internship program to partner with our students. We are looking for businesses and professionals who are willing to help students see what careers actually look like beyond the classroom.

Partnerships can be as simple as speaking to a class or answering student questions, or they can grow into workplace tours, hands-on projects, job shadows, internships, volunteer opportunities, event participation, or employment opportunities. Our Pathway Coordinators can work with you to determine an option that makes sense for your organization and our students.

Become a Pathway Partner
Offer a Student Opportunity
Invite Students Into Your Workplace
Schedule a Conversation With Us

Outside of District Educator or School Professional

We are continuing to develop and grow the OSHS Pathways model and welcome opportunities to connect with educators, schools, colleges, universities, and professional organizations.

Whether you are interested in learning more about our model, sharing resources, collaborating on an experience, providing professional learning, connecting your organization with our students and staff, or simply exchanging ideas, we would be happy to start the conversation.

Connect With Our Pathway Team - Send a coordinator an email and we'd be happy to chat!
Explore a School or Professional Partnership
Share a Resource or Professional Learning Opportunity

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