Educators
JA Inspire is about, well, inspiring our young people to see the potentials in their future.
Students who have an idea of what career they want to pursue, based on their self-awareness and exposure to career opportunities, are much more likely to take relevant courses, stay in school, and graduate. Young adults already out of high school also benefit from the program as a way to plan a path to a career.
At the end of JA Inspire, students should be excited about - and empowered to drive - their future.
What to Expect
The JA Inspire curriculum is designed to be used in preparation for the JA Inspire event whether that event is in-person, virtual (featuring JA Here to Career), or both. Your JA Area representative will let you know which type of event your students are attending and will provide details about the event.
The program (six curriculum sessions, five prior to the JA Inspire event and a post-event reflection) can be implemented in various ways, including:
Teacher-led (45-minute sessions, including introduction and wrap-up);
Student self-guided (30-minute sessions); or
Hybrid delivery.
Sessions are the same regardless of the type of event students are attending, with the exception of Session Five, which provides specific preparation guidelines for a virtual or in-person event.
JA Inspire includes gradable opportunities, such as activity handouts (fillable PDFs with print options) for each session and assessments. Contact your JA Program Manager to learn more.
Additional learning opportunities are found throughout the JA Inspire program. These include interactive videos on JA Connect, extended classroom activities, and more. The activities are meant to be flexible and can be further tailored to meet your classrooms’ unique needs. If you are interested in providing more soft skill exposure to your students, ask your JA Program Manager about JA It’s My Job (Soft Skills).
Resources
Curriculum Guides
Event Info
Wooster, presented by Schaeffler: February 15, 2024
Mansfield, presented by Charles River Laboratories: February 22, 2024
Canton, presented by Coastal Pet Products: March 7, 2024
Career Quest, presented by OhioMeansJobs: May 9, 2024
Destination Career: Ashland: May 14, 2024
Other Resources
JA Inspire Information FAQ: Parent & Guardian
JA Inspire Information FAQ: Chaperone
JA Inspire Information FAQ: Bussing
JA Inspire Event Map
JA Inspire Student Scavenger Hunt (included in event student guide)
FAQ
What standards does JA Inspire meet?
JA Inspire, Advanced and Entry, have been correlated to meet Ohio and national standards. For specifics, please see below:
What should I expect my students to learn after completing the JA Inspire curriculum?
After completing the full JA Inspire program (7 sessions, including a virtual and/or in-person event), students will:
Tell why career planning is important.
Assess their values, skills, and interests and use that information to evaluate potential careers.
Explore career clusters that interest them.
Recognize the connection between education and training choices and careers.
Find information about the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be successful in a job, through company exhibits and webinars about careers that interest them.
Explore post-high school education options, including apprenticeships and educational funding opportunities. (Advanced only)
Explore soft skills that employers value. (Advanced only)
Create a "brag sheet" listing their career-oriented achievements. (Advanced only)
Develop a personal career plan.
How do I know if I will be doing a virtual or in-person event?
Classes following all sessions of the JA Inspire program should attend a virtual event on JA Here to Career.
If you are interested in bringing your students to an in-person event, contact your JA Program Manager for locations and availability. During the 23-24 academic year, there will be four in-person events:
Wooster, presented by Schaeffler (Wayne County Fair Event Center): February 15, 2024
Mansfield, presented by Charles River Laboratories (Fairhaven Hall at Richland County Fairgrounds): February 22, 2024
Canton, presented by Coastal Pet Products (Center for Performance at Pro Football Hall of Fame Village): March 7, 2024
Career Quest, presented by OhioMeansJobs (The Energy Fieldhouse): May 9, 2024
Destination Career: Ashland (Ashland County Fairgrounds): May 14, 2024
What should I prepare for, if I am participating in a virtual and/or in-person event?
It is highly recommended that students complete all pre-event sessions (Sessions 1-5) before attending the JA Inspire event (Session 6). The curriculum guides students, step-by-step, through the career exploration process and will equip them to take full advantage of exploration options on JA Here to Career and of interactions at the in-person event. Session Five, in particular, is vital for preparing students for the JA Inspire event(s).
Set clear expectations for the learning experience. Students will have to complete the Session Seven reflection, so having a plan for event day and the opportunity to take notes will not only help them with the reflection, but further engage them in the career planning process.
For the virtual event (JA Here to Career), we suggest that teachers review:
The Exhibitor Table for the latest company representation;
Video options (Google link on the JA Here to Career home page); and
JA Here to Career walk-through video in class.
For an in-person event, we suggest that teachers review:
Expectations, including attire, behavior (please review the JA Student Code of Conduct), and device policies;
Interaction opportunities, such as elevator pitching, preparing questions, and utilizing business cards (optional Session Five activity); and
Day of logistics.
Do I need to provide JA with anything before, during and after JA Inspire?
Yes!
Pre- & Post-Program Check-In's: Before starting and immediately after completing the JA Inspire program, students should take the pre- and post-program check-in's (links on the Student/Participant Materials sheet).
Accurate student count for in-person event attendance.
Feedback & Verification Form (Google): to be submitted at the completion of the JA Inspire program.
JA does not need student permission forms or other field trip-related documents.
JA Inspire is over. How can I continue encouraging student career exploration?
Good news! JA Here to Career is available for student exploration 24/7, 365-days-a-year. Company profiles will be periodically updated with information and in-demand job needs, so encourage your students to check back, even after JA Inspire curriculum wraps up.