Kuder

When did you first decide what you wanted to be?

Most adults can answer that in seconds.

At Birmingham City Schools, a room full of educators was asked the same thing. What they said changed how an entire district thinks about elementary career awareness.

The district didn't build a new program. They made career exploration part of what teachers were already doing.

Read our CCR Champion Spotlight here: https://hubs.la/Q04l4mkd0

Most career readiness programs start in middle school.

Birmingham City Schools asked: what if we started in elementary?

When Career Coach Dr. Waynetta Turner asked teachers to reflect on when they first decided what they wanted to be, more than 75% said between ages six and ten.

Most were still in that field.

That single insight reframed everything for the district.

What happened next changed how their schools think about career development entirely.

Read the full story: https://hubs.la/Q04kbWWS0

The districts building WBL programs that stick? They start planning now.

They have three things in common: clear frameworks, strong partnerships, and measurable outcomes.

We packed everything you need to know into the Work-Based Learning Playbook: real examples, actionable checklists, tracking tools you can use to get ahead next year, and more.

Get your copy here: https://hubs.la/Q04hp9Rj0

What's your biggest WBL challenge as you prepare for next year? Swipe through and comment below.

Here's what happens when schools start career exploration in elementary school: Students develop broader aspirations. They build agency in shaping their own futures. They show higher academic engagement and stronger college persistence.

By starting early, educators can:

- Build Confidence: Show students career possibilities they haven't considered yet.
- Foster Growth Mindset: Shift the focus from "what careers are for me" to "how do I explore and grow."
- Connect to Purpose: Make learning meaningful by linking skills and interests to real-world careers.

The question isn't whether to implement career readiness. It's how to get started. Discover three clear implementation pathways and how schools are overcoming common barriers: https://hubs.ly/Q04gw7sr0

The right time to invest in your team's skills is now.

ICAD is Kuder's professional development division. We offer facilitated workshops that equip counselors, teachers, and leaders with the frameworks and strategies they need to build career readiness systems that actually work.

Three workshops are available:
🔹 AI in Career Advising
🔹 Facilitating Career-Connected Experiences
🔹 Career-Centric Pathway Planning

Which one would benefit your team most? Comment below. Let's talk about what you're building.

Learn more here: https://hubs.la/Q04f_XhP0

Teachers and counselors shape futures.

This week, we're celebrating the educators who see potential in students before they see it in themselves. The ones who have the conversations that matter. The ones who turn uncertainty into clarity.

Career development happens in moments.

Thank you for everything you do for the next generation.

What's one moment this year when an educator shifted someone's career path? Drop it below.

Our team is proud to work alongside partners expanding work-based learning so more students can gain hands-on, career-connected experience. It was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones at the ACTE WBL Conference in Rhode Island this year!

Learn more about our ever-growing work-based learning solutions: https://hubs.la/Q04f24Pl0

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Our team is proud to work alongside partners expanding work-based learning so more students can gain hands-on, career-connected experience. It was a pleasure to reconnect with familiar faces and meet new ones at the ACTE WBL Conference in Rhode Island this year!

Learn more about our ever-growing work-based learning solutions: https://hubs.la/Q04d-LNY0

What if we stopped viewing aptitude as a fixed label and started using it as a roadmap for growth?

In today’s classrooms, aptitude assessments are often underutilized. When used intentionally, they do more than just measure potential; they unlock it.

By helping students understand how their brains process information, educators can:

- Build Confidence: Show students strengths that don't always appear on report cards.
- Foster a Growth Mindset: Shift the focus from "what I am" to "how I can grow."
- Connect to Purpose: Make schoolwork meaningful by linking skills to real-world careers.

Our latest blog features two practical, classroom-ready activities to help you turn assessment data into powerful learning experiences.

👉 Read the full guide: https://hubs.la/Q04cKltR0