Training the Coaches
The Impact of the Career Coaching Fellowship
Indiana’s State Board of Education approved a new diploma with the goal of better connecting high school to students’ future goals. This new diploma increases required course flexibility and gives students the option to earn an enrollment, employment or enlistment readiness seal. The readiness seals allow students to update their graduation plan and pivot throughout their high school journey, if their original interests and goals change. The new system will become mandatory for the graduating class of 2029 (students who began 8th grade in fall 2024). Schools could implement the new diplomas as early as the 2025-26 school year.
Employer involvement is crucial in helping students and schools meet these new requirements. More students will need access to work-based learning opportunities - internships or other sustained interactions with industry professionals in real or simulated workplace settings to earn their readiness seal.
As demand for student opportunities grows, so too is the Chamber’s role in supporting employers in their efforts to meet these new requirements. The number of ways employers can engage with educators and students is wide-ranging. Consider hosting students at your site or going into the classroom to describe the work you do. These are two basic ways to get involved. If you need help in connecting with a school, contact our Career Connection Specialist, Dana Florea at 574.400.4026.
The Program: Career Coaching Fellowship
At the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, 21 fellows began their eight-month journey to become career coaches. Our Career Coaching Fellowship program equips regional career coaches with the tools and skills they’ll need to support and guide students on their pathway to career success. Our inaugural cohort of fellows engaged in industry exposure activities with local employers and work to build out needed regional resources and career exploration activities. The fellows were exposed to information such as career assessments and labor market data, in addition to tools like career readiness templates and the Chamber’s Career Exploration Resources to use in the classroom.
Fellows spent immersive program days with Steel Warehouse, St. Joe County Public Library, City of South Bend, Beacon Health System, Experience ND and AWS diving into career pathways available in these industries. From panel discussions with professionals to behind-the-scenes tours and interactive presentations, fellows gained firsthand insight into the careers that power our region. These experiences are equipping educators to design real-world lessons and activities that connect K-12 students with the diverse and promising careers available right here at home.
Last month, participating fellows and their administrators gathered for a debrief session to share their experiences, insights and recommendations on how to implement what they learned. The fellows were clear and enthusiastic toward the immersive experiences they engaged in—opening their eyes to the types of businesses and careers available in the South Bend Region.
South Bend Community Schools’ Counselor Briana Billups said, “I am so grateful for the relationships built, the insights gained and the chance to grow as a coach, school counselor and community leader. The knowledge I gained through this experience will help me continue implementing the career coaching framework with purpose and momentum, empowering students to explore their strengths, expand their career possibilities and confidently plan for the future.”
Ben Modlin, engineering department head at Mishawaka High School said, “My biggest takeaway from the program is that both employers and teachers desire to work together. The hardest part is knowing what companies or which schools are willing. The Chamber and local schools are working together to identify willing participants.”
The Chamber was able to present the Career Coaching Fellowship program with support from the Commission for Higher Education through Intermediary Capacity Building and Career Coaching grants received.