Salem School District

Jill Love (left) is the owner and operator of Fusion Hair & Co. in Salem. Love has been active in the district’s Career Connected Learning program and is currently mentoring a Salem High School intern at her salon.

The Salem School District is building a district-wide database of community partners to support a new initiative to expand its career connected learning opportunities beyond its growing internship program. The effort, part of the district’s strategic planning process, would build a network of community resources to enhance real-world learning connections for students in all grades.

“We currently have a number of great partners that support our internship program at Salem High School,” said Stacey Kallelis, Career Connected Learning Coordinator at Salem High School. “We’re hoping to build on this success and enlist community members as guest speakers, mentors, intern hosts, or participants in various career exploration opportunities.”

The district recently participated in a Gallup survey of students championed by the New Hampshire Learning Initiative to assess Career Connected Learning (CCL) as an educational strategy to better prepare students for the workforce and life beyond school. The results show the positive impact CCL engagement has on students—improved career awareness and increased hopefulness about their futures.

“When we’re able to connect students directly with community businesses and organizations, they begin to consider all of the opportunities that await them,” Kallelis explained. “As a result, students are more likely to actively engage in learning and develop a vision and hope for their future.”

Salem School District’s Strategic Plan includes a goal to “Prepare every student to graduate with a plan.” Under that goal, Kallelis and a team of district employees are working on a number of strategies that would expand career exploration opportunities for students.

“This might include an elementary classroom hosting a veterinarian for a guest reading opportunity, paired with a discussion or activity about animal care.” Kallelis explained. “At another level, we can envision a career exploration fair where students ask questions of local businesses or organizations to better understand a particular career pathway.”

By building a database of community partners, the district hopes to provide access for educators to call upon industry professionals to help make connections to content.
 

Jill Love, owner and operator of Fusion Hair & Co. in Salem, has been engaged with the schools for a number of years as a parent, a participant in the district’s Portrait of a Learner initiative, as a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the CTE program, and as a recurring guest artist in the cosmetology program. Love is currently mentoring a high school intern at her salon that is leading to a career opportunity after graduation.

“Being a business and stylist mentor within the program has been a phenomenal experience,” Love said of her involvement. “Offering an internship gives businesses a chance to mentor and shape the next generation of professionals. I’ve taken great pride in watching our cosmetology intern develop skills that supports her creativity and passions as well as create financial success for her future.“

Kallelis and the other members of the strategic planning sub-group will be presenting initial plans in May for consideration to be included in the overall implementation effort. Any individual, business, or organization with an interest in becoming a community partner with the district can contact Stacey Kallelis at Stacey.Kallelis@sau57.org for more information.