The program allows young people to analyze job potential | News, Sports, Jobs

Leo Vennetti, 13, a seventh-grader from Howland, left, and Brennen Nickels, 12, a sixth-grader from Lakeview Schools, participate in a career exploration activity at a weekly program at the high school Lordstown provided by Trumbull County Educational Service. Center.

LORDSTOWN — What it takes to run a business and the training and skills needed for various career fields are part of a program offered to students in grades 4 through 7 by the Trumbull County Educational Service Center .

Jenna Jordan, STEAM coordinator for TCEC, said this year is different from past years where there have been design challenge programs.

“We’ve moved away from that a little bit, and this year we’re offering career discovery courses where students are looking at different careers that are out there,” Jordan said.

She said the career discovery carts are brought to various classrooms at Lordstown High School. Carts include careers in automotive, welding and solar energy.

One cart is for welding and shows the different types of welding careers, including underwater and on oil rigs. They can also participate in the welding simulation.

Jordan said there is also an entrepreneurship expedition class that looks at what businesses look like and how they can become entrepreneurs.

“These students are running their own businesses and seeing how they can relate to the market at their age. They learned how to start their own business.” Jordan said.

She said the show’s organizers wanted to revamp a few things and stick with what’s happening in 2024.

More than 165 children in grades 4-7 from participating schools come to Lordstown twice a week, where the children will present what they have learned. The course takes place on December 10 and 11.

“What I like to see is all the hands-on activities that kids can participate in. Students can collaborate with students they have met from different school districts. They get to build new friendships while using the skills they’ve learned here.” Jordan said.

She said children can select program tracts to attend, one in the morning and one in the early afternoon.

“Many of the kids are taking the career discovery route along with another program they enjoy,” she said.

Options included engineering, coding and robotics, mixed media and performing arts.

Joseph Jeswald, a retired teacher and school administrator who is one of the program’s instructors, said with career discovery, kids in 4th and 5th grades start looking at different career fields.

“This gives them the opportunity to look at a number of different careers. I did interest and ability assessments as well as personality assessment. We try to match their interests, skills and personality to a particular career.” Jeswald said.

Brent Miller, 11, a fifth-grader at Lakeview Schools, said he wanted to try career exploration to gain more knowledge about what different careers offer.

Sienna Brainard, also a Lakeview fifth grader, said she chose career exploration because she wanted to be able to explore different careers. She selected media arts and career paths.

Mason Pegg, 12, a sixth-grader at Howland Schools, said he chose entrepreneurship because he wanted to see how to run a business.

“When I’m older, I might want to have my own business.” he said.

Landon Charba, 11, a Brookfield Schools sixth grader, said there is a lot of work involved in owning a business.

The programs are offered through STEAM Powered Learning, which is a cooperative program between Trumbull County Schools and TCEC that develops and promotes the creative talents of students.