Career Exploration

TriDistrict CAPS 

The TriDistrict Career and College Readiness Initiative is a unique partnership that has developed between the school districts of Inver Grove Heights, South St. Paul,  and West. St. Paul - Mendota Heights - Eagan. The partnership between these three districts is a collaborative effort to guarantee that all students of Simley, South St. Paul, and Two Rivers high schools graduate with a plan for their next step and have the skills, knowledge, attributes and attitudes to be successful, wherever that next step takes them.

It's critical for students to have a wide array of career and college readiness experiences, exposures, and explorations. To support the goals of our initiative in this regard, the TriDistrict schools, in collaboration with community and business partners, have developed unique and immersive learning experiences for TriDistrict juniors and seniors. 

Students learn about broad career opportunities within a career field and the specific professional skills needed to succeed in the industry encompassed by the course. Equally important, students also learn to transfer these skills to other career areas and their personal and professional lives in general.

In the 2018-2019 school year, the TriDistrict launched two immersive learning courses: Healthcare and Transportation and Skilled Trades. More have been added over the years. In the fall semester, students attend class on-site at a local business partner’s campus. Instruction and exploration is led and facilitated by an interdisciplinary team of teachers who draw upon the professionals within the host-business site, as well as across the target industry and its sectors. Classroom work includes project management and completion, job shadows, site visits, guest speakers, and mentoring among other activities. In the spring semester, students apply for internships to demonstrate what they learned and leverage their skills. 

Visit www.careercollegeready.org to learn more about TriDistrict CAPS.

Apprenticeships as a Post-secondary Pathway

There is a significant shortage of skilled trade workers and that trend continues to increase. 

An apprenticeship is an excellent opportunity to enter into a high-wage industry, gaining experience and salary increases through on-the-job training and classroom instruction. It is an earn-as-you-learn system of training where you gain skills during paid on-the-job instruction. An apprentice typically attends 144 hours of classroom instruction per year. Most costs of training are either completely covered or highly subsidized by the union. You earn wages and benefits from the first day of your on-the-job-training. You work side-by-side with skilled tradesmen who guide, teach, and mentor you. The length of an apprenticeship ranges from 3-5 years, depending on the trade. 

There are 16 different career training tracks you can enter as an apprentice. Some of the more popular trade pathways include becoming a: cement mason, electrician, carpenter, plumber, pipefitter, roofer, and iron worker. A great way to learn more about the different trades as well as the benefits of an apprenticeship is by going to www.constructioncareers.org. This site is specific to Minnesota and is a top-notch resource! 

Simley students will have the opportunity to attend Construct Tomorrow in the spring, which provides hands-on experiences and exposure to careers in the construction trades. It is an excellent way to learn about union apprenticeships, training programs, and construction careers as well as meet with employers, apprenticeship training coordinators, and other community partners. More information will be available in the new year about this great opportunity! 

Military as a Post-secondary Pathway

The military is another option after high school. Each branch of the military typically visits the lunchroom once a month to once a semester. They are Simley's direct contact and are available to provide information, answer questions, and support students through the process of enlistment. 

If a student is interested in the military, they are highly encouraged to learn about every branch, speak to their families, and understand all of their requirements and benefits before making a final decision. 

Every branch of the military requires students to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) exam. Simley offers the ASVAB to students in October and April; however, students can also take it directly with a recruiter at an enlistment center. 

Another route into the military is to complete leadership training while in college and then enter as an officer. This program is called Reserve Officer Training Corps, or ROTC. There are many additional benefits of ROTC. Click here for more ROTC information.

Also, visit https://www.todaysmilitary.com/ for an excellent resource for learning more about all aspects of the military, each branch, and the process of enlistment is.