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Career Coaches

 

                 Keslie Garrett                                                Jennifer Cook                                           Melissa McHenry

 kesliegarrett@franklin.k12.al.us                 jennifercook@franklin.k12.al.us                 melissamchenry@franklin.k12.al.us

                

                                                       Career Coaches Email:            fccoach@franklin.k12.al.us

                                                                       Phone number:   256-332-2127

 

For more info, follow our Facebook pages: Franklin County Scholarships / Careers and Franklin County Career Coaches

                             ** We are based at the Franklin County Career Technical Center, but we service all schools in Franklin County.

 

 

What is a Career Coach?

A career coach is a professional who helps students explore, plan, and prepare for their future careers. They work within schools to provide guidance on various career paths, including higher education, vocational training, and entry-level jobs. Career coaches help students identify their interests, skills, and potential career options, often focusing on connecting academic work to real-world applications.

Their responsibilities include:

  • Career Exploration: Helping students research different careers, industries, and job opportunities.
  • Skill Development: Offering advice on acquiring necessary skills, including soft skills and technical expertise.
  • College and Vocational Training Guidance: Assisting with the college application process, scholarships, apprenticeships, and trade school options.
  • Work-Based Learning: Organizing internships, job shadowing, and other hands-on learning opportunities.
  • Resume and Interview Preparation: Teaching students how to create resumes, cover letters, and how to prepare for job interviews.

Career coaches often collaborate with local businesses, industries, and higher education institutions to ensure that students are well-prepared for the workforce or further academic study. This role is part of the state’s efforts to better prepare students for life after high school and to close the skills gap in the workforce.

 

 

Careers on Wheels

 

Careers on Wheels is an event designed to introduce students, particularly in elementary and middle school, to a variety of careers through interactive experiences with professionals who work in different fields. The program often involves bringing vehicles—such as trucks, buses, or other specialized vehicles—that represent different industries to schools or community events. Inside these vehicles, professionals from various sectors provide hands-on demonstrations, share information about their jobs, and answer questions from students.

The goal of Careers on Wheels is to expose students to career options they might not be aware of, especially those that involve technical skills, trades, or other specialized professions. It’s particularly popular for showcasing careers in fields like construction, law enforcement, emergency services, transportation, and technology.

Franklin County Career Technical Center

Made in Alabama Event 2024

Franklin County Sixth Graders Experience 'Made in Alabama' Event

Franklin County, AL – A remarkable celebration of local industry and craftsmanship took place recently as all sixth graders from Franklin County Schools gathered for the "Made in Alabama" event. This educational initiative, organized by career coaches Jennifer Cook and Melissa McHenry, provided students with hands-on experiences highlighting the diverse products manufactured in Alabama.

Students explored an array of local businesses and their unique offerings. Highlights included beautifully crafted candles from Alabama Candle Co., durable coatings from Belgreen Coatings, and expertly designed pulleys from Clark Pulley. CNC Stonecrafters showcased their artistry with stone, presenting creations such as intricate representations of the Alabama A and scenes from The Lord's Supper. Pilgrim’s Pride donated merchandise for the students to look at. 

In addition to industrial products, students enjoyed learning about toilet paper from Essity and treats from a couple of places including Golden Eagle Syrup, which featured pecan pies, popcorn, and syrup and To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. Students got to see lounging chairs from Leisure Creations, pallets from McVantage, and various sauces from Moore's Marinade, as well as different pickles from Wickles Pickles. Murray Farms donated a mum, cotton and peanuts for the students to look at. One4 also crafted a sign for our “Made in Alabama” event and brought several things for students to look at. Vulcan Materials donated multiple jars of rock with descriptions of what each type of rock is used for. 

The event went beyond products, allowing students to tour Franklin County's career tech programs, which include business, drafting, autobody collision repair, industrial maintenance, cabinetmaking, welding, cosmetology, and health science. A couple of programs had engaging activities; for instance, the cabinetmaking team guided students in creating bubble blowers, while the business program allowed them to design their own food trucks.

In addition to the learning experiences, students participated in games and enjoyed a complimentary lunch, provided by the Franklin County Career Technical Center.

Organizers Cook and McHenry expressed their gratitude for the hard work put in by numerous individuals and businesses that contributed to the event’s success. "We are thrilled with how everything turned out," Cook and McHenry stated. "It took a lot of teamwork to bring this to life, and seeing the students engaged and excited was the ultimate reward."

The "Made in Alabama" event not only celebrated local industries but also inspired the next generation to explore potential career paths and appreciate the craftsmanship found in their own backyard. With such positive feedback, there are hopes for future events to continue this vital connection between education and local business.

 

RESOURCES: Jobs / Financial Aid / Resume' help / Etc..

Skills for Success: https://innovation.accs.edu/skills-for-success/

NWSCC FREE Workforce Training: https://nwscc.edu/explore-programs/workforce-training/

Kuder/Alabama Career Planning System: https://alabamacareerplanningsystem.com/

Alabama Possible: https://alabamapossible.org/

Alabama Works: https://alabamaworks.alabama.gov/vosnet/default.aspx

Alabama Employment Center: https://www.personnel.alabama.gov/jobs

AIDT: https://www.aidt.edu/

FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/