Dr. Patrick Spray, who became superintendent in July 2023 after leading Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation for nearly a decade, emphasizes the need for early career exploration.“How can we shift to include early career exploration so our students see how their learning connects to real careers from the very beginning?” Dr. Spray asks, describing the district’s approach as a fundamental shift. Students now engage with local businesses, learn alongside professionals, and tackle real-world problems starting in elementary school rather than waiting until high school to begin thinking about careers. Brian Knight, Director of Secondary Education, emphasizes why early exposure matters. “It’s about trying to grow our kids’ visions for themselves and how they can connect to our community,” he says. “The better we can connect our students with the community and the community with our students, the stronger our neighborhoods, partnerships, and the Southside of Indianapolis become.” BUILDING MINDSETS, NOT JUST SKILLS Perry Township’s entrepreneurship initiative is a departure from traditional vocational training. Rather than funneling students into narrow specializations, the program cultivates adaptable thinking and exposes teenagers to multiple industries before they commit to a single path. “A big part of the Entrepreneurship Pathway is that we are trying to shift students’ mindsets while exposing them to different local community organizations, and therefore they’re exposed to a variety of careers and not just one,” Knight explains. “If I’m going to take a program at Central Nine that is welding, then I’m going to weld.That’s what I’ve signed up for. If I take advantage of the Entrepreneurship Pathway, I may get to interact with multiple different community partners and organizations.” The distinction matters in an era when workers change careers multiple times throughout their lives. Jeff Spencer, Assistant Superintendent for Foundational Learning, points to the program’s practical advantages. “Through this program, students gain in-depth exposure to a wide range of careers. If they choose to change paths later in life, we believe they’ll be more adaptable and 197 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02 PERRY TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
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