Wacona Elementary counselor Dr. Kim Callahan presented at the Association for Career and Technical Education’s National Career Tech Vision Conference held in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Callahan was invited to present from a nation-wide group of educators and one of the few school counselors selected. She also served as a Georgia Delegate to the ACTE Assembly of Delegates, a distinct honor reserved for a prestigious group.
Dr. Callahan shared information with educators from all over the U.S. about the career model developed for the Ware County Career Bridge Expo; the model that is still being used for the Wacona College and Career Fair today. She presented processes as well as the research that supports career education throughout the lifespan. She also shared the importance of teaching students about tools that can help them determine the careers for which they may be best suited. These tools include career interest inventories, career aptitude surveys, journaling, and websites that share virtual college tours and job shadowing. Dr. Callahan contributed the success of the model to the supportive administration, counselors, and staff in the Ware County School System as well as the many community leaders who have participated in the career development program over the years. Her copresenter, Ms. Sharon Barrow, former Ware County counselor also shared information about the model. John Chancey is the principal at Wacona Elementary School.
The ACTE Career Tech Vision Conference is held annually and includes business leaders, industry representatives, teachers, administrators, researchers, counselors and others connected with career education. Career, Technical and Agricultural Education has been proven to increase graduation rates across the country. In Georgia, students who complete at least 1 career pathway currently have a high school graduation rate of 94.9%.