Students, advisors, employers talk about the future at career fair
Students, career advisors and employers got to rub shoulders and talk about the future last week. Some 500 students and 75 employers were part of a first job and career fair for Cass County Schools.
The event was held in Fellowship Hall of Atlanta First Baptist Church where the room size and atmosphere were particularly engaging. Not too big, not too small.
The theme of the job fair was “Bringing it back home. Connecting with local employers.” One employer was especially apt with her comment.
“No matter what a student wants to be, they still need education to get there,” said Mandi Stringer, assistant principal of Queen City’s J.K. Hileman Elementary. Her display table elevated teaching as a career.
Stacy Anthony, director for the new College, Career, Military, Readiness (CCMR) program at the Atlanta Independent School District, developed the joint career fair idea.
“I happened to be talking with Jennifer Stewart, Linden-Kildare (CISD) counselor, about how difficult it was to get businesses and employers to participate in a small school career fair program. I thought of our other schools in Cass County. McLeod, Bloomburg, Avinger, Hughes Springs and Queen City. I thought, ‘Why not work together?’”
Anthony emailed the counselors. They agreed with the idea and began meeting monthly to prepare. A first item was to create spreadsheets of students, employers, professionals, venues and categories.
“Soon we had 600 students, those who would be juniors and seniors,” Anthony said, “and encouraging responses from the public. The event was on. It would be my first career event, but not my last.”
Anthony said she is already planning a college fair next fall. Junior and senior students will get to attend both career and college fairs in their final two years.
“I am so encouraged,” she said. “I’ve been in classroom 17 years and always sprinkled college and career readiness in my curriculum. Then Atlanta, my employer, looked forward and saw need for a CCMR director. Now I’m grateful to throw myself into this wholeheartedly.”
Anthony gave credit to the leadership for the program’s success. Here are counselors who formed the monthly planning staff.
■ Lori Cullins, Atlanta director of Instructional Programs
■ Karen Sams, Hughes Springs 11/12th counselor
■ Whitney Adams, Hughes Spring 9/10th counselor
■ Jennifer Stewart, Linden-Kildare counselor
■ Jana Scharnberg, Hughes Spring counselor
■ Kathy O’Kelley, McLeod counselor
■ Kendra Bates, Queen City counselor
Anthony also gave special thanks to the First Baptist Church staff and the economic development corporations of Atlanta, Hughes Springs, Linden and Queen City.
“We had representatives from each of our 16 career pathways that students interacted with. The students brought resumes and also had questions printed on the back of their floor maps to generate discussion.”
Anthony then asked a business owner for a comment. Keri Richardson, owner of Heritage Insurance in Atlanta, began by saying she did collect a few resumes.
”I will keep them on file for the next position that I have available. I think the main benefit was just the opportunity to be a tangible example to these young students of how people earn a living in our town. To be a real person in front of them, telling them what we do every day and what we like about our careers. I enjoyed having conversations with them.”