Interview with Dr.

Lowe
1. How do you place new pathways into schools?

Our office closely studies Department of Labor, Chamber of Commerce, and other
sources to ensure all pathways replicate areas of need in our community. We have to be
focused on making sure we are offering pathways that have growth in fields to ensure our
students will be successful in their next step whether that be directly to college or
starting in the workplace.

I think that this is the most effective way to place pathways into the school so that they
know after they leave high school it will be a path that has growing opportunities. There
will be jobs available for them when they finish high school due to the continuous need
for employees.

2. How do you know whether or not a particular pathway will gain enough students to
thrive within the school?
We try to build labs so that they are easily modified as pathway needs change over time.
For example, we may plan an engineering lab at Forsyth Central HS; however, that may
change over time and still work for a manufacturing pathway, architecture pathway, etc.
We monitor student interest surveys, pathway completing, etc. as we decide what to offer
each year.

Using this strategy helps to keep the most high demanding jobs within the schools, which
helps to prepare students for the skills needed to continue on through those specific
pathways.

3. What studies have been done to prove that pathways are helping students with future
careers?

There is a lot of research out there which talks about the benefits of career pathways, and
Georgia has also done a lot of studies related to students completing pathways. For
example, Forsyth County students have a 99% graduation rate if they take a least one
CTAE course. SREB (out of Atlanta) is a great source of research about career pathways
and career academies. ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education) is our
national organization that lobbies for CTE and does a lot of career-related education also.

Having these organizations and the research helps to make sure that the pathways within
the schools are efficiently helping prepare students for what is expected of them in their
future jobs. Without this research, we wouldn't have the studies to help improve what
needs to be changed in the courses and wouldn't know whether or not they're effective.

4. Why do you think students should focus on careers and pathways starting early in their
high school education rather than later?
For me as an educator and as a parent, students who focus on a career pathway in high
school are able to start thinking about lifelong decisions earlier. They can decide what
they like and dislike in high school before they spend several years (and lots of $$$) in
college deciding that they dont like this career or that career. Also by completing a career
pathway, students earn industry credentials and have the opportunity to do an internship
before they complete their high school education.

Learning what careers you like earlier in your education can help us students decide what
careers we like and don't like earlier on, instead of spending money in college and then
finding out it's not something we love and having to go back to get another degree.

5. Do you think interning within a pathway also helps prepare a student for their future
careers and college courses? Why?

Exploring a career pathway in high school allows students to make decisions of likes and
dislikes and hopefully allows them to decide earlier as to what they should major in when
they get to college. An internship will only validate those decisions and allows students to
see the real-life of a career. Its easy to study something in a book; however, completing
an internship allows that learning to come alive!

As a intern in high school, I completely agree with what Dr. Lowe has to say about
internships. Interning in high school has allowed me to see education in the making and
make decisions on what I like about it and what I don't necessarily agree with. I think it is
a great opportunity and will help students decide if it is really something they want to
pursue.
6. How are new pathways chosen to be added to schools? Are there surveys taken by
students or are the pathways chosen by the Board of Education? Part of my job is to study
the job marketing and statistics from the Department of Labor to make decisions on
which pathways to offer or add at schools. We are lucky that we have a Board of
Education that trusts leadership to make decisions for what is best for students in Forsyth
County.

I think that having someone who works with pathway teachers and students who
complete the pathways on daily bases make that decision is most effective. Dr. Lowe uses
all of her capabilities and connections to make smart decisions on which pathways to add.
I think she is the best one to make these calls.

7. Does completing a pathway help persuade employers to hire you?

Yes! Students are much more marketable if they have majored in a particular career
area. The End of Pathway Assessment taken also shows to employers that a student is
serious and committed to the career pathway area. Also, completing an internship will
allow you to get a great part-time or full-time job while you are in college working on
your major. For example, you personally will get a much better job because of your
internship and work-based learning experience this year. You can get a great job which
will pay much better while you are in college to help pay for college expenses and other
students may be working retail or another job with entry-level pay. You can really work
on your resume (and we can this year at some point) to show employers all of the
knowledge you have built this year from Honors Mentorship and Work-Based Learning.
Now knowing I can get a better paying job that focuses on my career, I know that
completing a pathway really helps. Pathways can help persuade employers to hire you
especially if you are competing against someone who has not completed a pathway.

8. Do colleges take into consider your completed pathway when looking at college
applications?

Yes, they take into consideration that you have taken all of the options available to you in
high school. You are showing that you are taking initiative. For example, a student who
has chosen IE2 rather than taking a Work-Based Learning, Honors Mentorship, or
MOWR option is not going to be perceived as highly on a college application.

I think that a completed pathway, HMP, and WBL would look great on a college
application as Dr. Lowe stated. IE2 would be perceived as taking the easy way out your
senior year.

9. How can completing a pathway give you more experience or success while working
within that career field?

I think we can both agree that you have learned a lot about education this year, along with
what you learned in Mr. Walkups class. I think that experience has given you a more
vivid understanding of what happens in the real world.

Working along side with Dr. Lowe as well as taking Mr. Walkup's class has really helped
to prepare for whatever may be thrown my way in my future career. All of the
opportunities I have had will help me to know what to do when in a difficult situation.

10. How could focusing my high school years on my pathway help to contribute or
facilitate to my career in the future?

You have chosen a successful path for yourself in high school. You have shown your
parents, your teachers, and your friends how hard you have worked! I think these
opportunities have set you on a successful path in life. Always know that these same
people your family, your teachers, your high school administrators, etc. are here for
you with any type of career-related questions or issues you may have!

I think in the end focusing on my future career in high school will give me that extra
advantage to any opportunities that may come my way. Being extra prepared will only
help me in the long run.