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Providing a Pipeline to Jobs and Career Choices at Beloit Schools

This is part of a larger article produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news outlet focused on education. To access the full article go to
https://hechingerreport.org/this-school-built-high-end-training-sites-on-campus-to-prepare-students-for-local-skilled-jobs
By Wayne D’Orio The main reason Beloit Memorial has
Manufacturing and construction domi- been able to zoom past state and national
nate the business needs inside Beloit, a goals for both CTE and work-based learn-
small city of 36,000 just minutes from the ing is the school’s single-minded focus
Illinois border. Sitting at the nexus of two since 2018 on helping to ensure that its
major highways, and within 100 miles of graduates will understand what businesses
Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison, Beloit need and giving them a head start toward
is home to a range of businesses. gaining those skills.
Staffing these companies into the High school officials actually pared
future is a major concern, so when Beloit back the program from 44 pathways to 13,
decided to revamp its public high school in Stenroos said, part of an effort to tie each
2018, CTE and work-based learning were pathway to specific jobs. About 75 percent
at the forefront of the transformation. of pathways target area jobs, with the
The 1,225-student school now has remaining quarter highlighting prominent
three academies that cover 13 different professions within the state, he added.
career paths. After ninth grade, students Each of the three academies has an
choose to concentrate in an area, which advisory board of teachers and industry
means taking several courses in a specific professionals who work out how to embed
field. Students also have the option to do practical lessons in classroom curriculum.
work-based learning, which can mean “We ask business people, ‘What do you
internships, a youth apprenticeship or need, and how can we help our kids get
working at high-end simulated job sites there?’” said Stenroos.
inside the school. The connection to area businesses
“This creates not just a pipeline to goes beyond the school’s leaders. Each
jobs but also to career choices,” said Jeff year, about 10 teachers complete an extern-
Stenroos, the district’s director of CTE and Our PACMES Academy students had an incredible time participating in Junkyard Wars hosted by ship in which they spend one week of their
alternative education. Blackhawk Technical College! A huge thank you to BTC for organizing such a fun and engaging summer at a local business. Teachers are
The high school features a cavernous event that challenges students to problem-solve, create, and collaborate. We also want to give a paid $1,000 for the 20 hours, and they
construction area where students build full- special shoutout to all the sponsors who made this experience possible for our students — your not only learn about what jobs a company
scale rooms, learn masonry and complete support makes a difference! may have but also find ways to incorporate
plumbing and electrical wiring projects. real-world problems into their classroom
The metal shop offers 16 welding stations and a die-cutter machine that allows stu- of Workforce Development pays schools lessons.
dents to create customized pieces to fit for each student who earns a certification; Rik Thomas, a rising senior who
projects. Down the street, the school runs in 2024, Beloit received $85,000 through already has his own business repairing and
an eight-bay car repair center, a space it this program, Stenroos said. modifying cars, said this work has defi-
took over when a Sears autobody shop left Over in the welding room, rising nitely made him more interested in school.
town. senior Cole Mellom was putting the fin- While he thought the academy would
In addition to their high school ishing touches on a smoker he built in less merely explain what a construction career
courses, Beloit Memorial students pile up than a month’s time. He said he loved the might include, “It’s nice to find out how to
industry-recognized creativity of finding do the work.” His father works in construc-
certifications, Sten- a plan, cutting the tion and, Thomas added, “He loves that I
roos said. More than “The 1,225-student school now metal and building take this program.”
40 percent of its stu- has three academies that cover something that he Thomas and his classmates built a
dents graduate with could sell, all while wooden shed earlier this year and were able
at least one certifi- 13 different career paths. After in school. Plus, he to sell it for $2,500, with the money going
cation, and 1 in 4 of ninth grade, students choose to knows that welding to pay for more materials. Likewise, the
them has multiple concentrate in an area, which is a key skill needed first smoker created in the welding class
certifications. means taking several courses for his dream job, was bought by Stenroos; the students are
While some in a specific field. Students also race-car fabrication. looking forward to posting the second one
simple certifications, have the option to do work- In the past, for sale after they determine how much
such as OSHA Work- students created a they should charge.
place Safety, can be based learning, which can mean custom-made pro- While the school’s construction and
accomplished in just internships, a youth apprentice- tective plate that the other trade-related fields have drawn the
10 hours, others, ship or working at high-end city’s police use on a most attention, its three academies also
such as those for the simulated job sites inside the bomb squad vehicle. offer career paths in healthcare, education,
American Welding school.” The welding business, the arts, hospitality and more.
Society, require up to program has 125
Our students have been upgrading all
18 welding lab booths by designing and 500 hours of student students this year
manufacturing brand-new welding tool work, he added. The state has called for 9 and had to turn away 65 more because
holders right in the shop! Using CAD software percent of graduating high school students of space limitations, Stenroos said; last
and the press brake, they’ve taken the lead to have earned at least one certification by year, 17 of the school’s welding academy
on improving their own learning spaces. next year. To incentivize schools to offer graduates enlisted in the armed forces to www.sdb.k12.wi.us
This hands-on project is a great example of
students applying real-world skills and leaving these opportunities, the state’s Department specialize in welding.
their mark on the classroom.