Career Pathways is a newer initiative by the Saint Paul Public School District designed to bring relevancy to high school education. Students can look to Career Pathways to bring opportunity and real world experiences- either through classes, coursework, field trips, guest speakers, or internships. Our four Career Pathways are: Innovative Technologies, Education and Community Justice, Health Sciences, and Business and Communications.
All students at Johnson Aerospace and Engineering take a Career Pathways course or courses each academic year.
Freshmen: Freshman Focus/AVID 9 and PLTW Engineering Essentials
Sophomores choose from: Intro to Medical Careers, Intro to Business, Intro to Computer Programming, or Intro to Education and Community Justice
Juniors/Seniors: Continue with courses in their chosen Pathway
Students also have the opportunity to sign up for a Right Track Spring Internship. Students will get to practice applying for jobs, interviewing, and learn valuable employment skills. They will work 8-10 hours a week, starting in February and ending in May. Students make $13 at jobs that match their interests and are located close to where they live. This application opens in October.
Juniors can apply for 3M Step during October. Students selected for this program will work at 3M during the summer between their Junior and Senior years. They have made up to $20 an hour, and can work 35-40 hours a week.
Juniors can also apply for Genesys Works. Students selected for this program learn valuable employment skills during the summer between their Junior and Senior years. They are then "drafted" into business/computer technology jobs they work part of their school day during their senior year and beyond. These students make up to $16 an hour.
Lastly, Juniors can apply for MNDoT Phoenix. These are engineering, architecture, and trades positions. Students do these jobs with an experienced mentor. They make up to $16 an hour and work during the summer between their junior and senior years. MNDoT is a great employer and students who have done these jobs have been very happy with their experience.
We also offer free districtwide courses, off of the Johnson campus for very specific careers. Sophomores, juniors and seniors may take Auto Mechanics 1, 2, and 3 (students can earn ASE certification through this program). Juniors and seniors may take a Certified Nursing Assistant course through the College of St. Catherine. Seniors can take Emergency Medical Technician Training, through Century College and they can start their careers in the trades with the Operating Engineers Sandbox Course.
Students can also earn industry certifications through our Earn as you Learn program. They can get many OSHA certifications, Personal Care Attendent and CPR/First Aid certifications and many more. Here is the link to learn more about this program. The certifications are always free for students but sometimes, their is a stipend for students depending on the availability of grant funds.
There are many other opportunities for students. Check out the Career Pathways Newsletter for more!