6th-8th Career Exploration

To the fantastic educators and administrators across our districts: thank you for your incredible partnership this year. Your dedication to building a strong career readiness culture has truly empowered our students. It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with you as part of the career and college readiness team!

Degree needed: 4 year bachelor's degree. Median salary: $100,000 per year. Skills: Communication, creativity, interpersonal, problem-solving and math skills. Check out Xello's profile of an Environmental Engineer by logging into your Xello account. Or, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook to learn more.

Learn more about Environmental Engineers through the TeachEngineering site. It offers a closer look at what different engineers do and provides hands-on activities that bring engineering careers to life for middle school students.

KickStart to Career (KtC) Updates! KtC will be growing with your current 7th graders into 8th grade next year—stay tuned for upcoming 8th-grade KickStart to Career activities!

Students had many amazing opportunities to earn deposits into their KtC accounts this school year. Families can check their balances via PowerSchool.

Thank you so much for your dedication to helping students and families succeed through KickStart to Career!

Montague 8th graders recently stepped out of the classroom for an exciting day of hands-on career exploration. Thanks to fantastic community partnerships, students rotated through diverse career clusters:

• Marketing & Arts: Explored modern branding and strategy through interactive activities at Revel Marketing and Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce.

• Engineering & Trades: Met with professionals in Architecture and Plumbing at MCC Sturrus Technology Center.

• Health Sciences: Practiced skills in Respiratory Therapy, Nursing, and Nurse Assisting at MCC Health Sciences.

• Agriculture & Natural Resources: Toured the Baker College Vet Tech program, checking out microscope slides and learning about animal care.

• Human Services: Engaged with experts in Criminal Justice, Law, Public Safety, and Social Work with City of Montague.

Thank you to NBC Middle School, Revel Marketing, Hooker DeJong, Inc. (HDJ), UA Local 174 Plumbers & Pipefitters, City of Montague, MCC, Baker College, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, and MAISD for investing in the students and making this experience a memorable success!

During a recent half-day Friday, Reeths-Puffer Middle School students participated in a career exploration event designed to broaden their understanding of various professions and their connection to academic learning. The initiative aimed to:

• Expose students to a diverse range of career clusters.

• Connect current academic studies to future career paths.

• Help students visualize long-term goals and understand the immediate relevance of their education.

Students rotated through different career clusters, exploring high-demand professions such as a Lawyer, Heavy Equipment Operator, Veterinarian, IT Specialist, Nurse, Physical Therapist, Culinary Dietician, Small Business Owner, Detective, Chiropractor, Chef, Conservationist, and Engineer, as well as roles in Marketing, Plumbing, and the Construction Trades.

Eighth-grade students from many school districts across Muskegon County recently visited the Career Tech Center (CTC) for an immersive, interactive look into future career paths. Each student had the opportunity to step directly into three different CTC programs from a variety of fields:

• Public Service & Education: Criminal Justice, Teacher Academy

• Health Sciences: Health Science Academy, Allied Health

• Tech & Design: Engineering Design Thinking, Graphic Design, Software Design and Development, Electrical/Computer Technologies, Cybersecurity & Networking

• Trades & Industry: Welding Technology, Machine Tool Technology, Construction Trades, Auto Service Technology, Auto Collision/Refinishing

• Natural Resources & Services: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hospitality & Food Management

Hands-on highlights included play-testing student-coded software, welding, hammering nails, and learning essential life-saving skills like taking pulses and CPR. They also got to decorate cookies, test their automotive repair skills, discover what it takes to be an educator, and even test the speed of vehicles using a radar detector.

A huge thank you to the fantastic CTC staff and all our participating middle schools for collaborating to create such an enriching experience for our county's 8th graders!

The final Xello, KickStart to Career, & MAISD Tiered Career Exploration summaries have been sent to all middle school principals and counselors. These reports highlight your district's amazing career exploration engagement strengths, plus some great growth opportunities for next year.

• Let's Connect: I would love to schedule a back-to-school meeting to celebrate your achievements and plan strategies for the upcoming school year.

• I’m in the office until June 19 and return August 10. Reach out if you'd like to chat!

Looking to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce? We have three distinct pathways to help your school build a thriving culture of career development.

• 1. Foundations: In partnership with Youth Solutions, our career specialists help you design and launch a sustainable, multi-year career development roadmap tailored to your school and/or district.

• 2. Connecting Careers to the Core: Launching late summer/early fall, this PD equips teachers to weave real-world relevance into daily lessons. Move beyond theory with interactive workshops focused on transferable skills and student interests.

• 3. Comprehensive Career Curriculum: Give your students a clear compass. This curriculum guides middle schoolers through career exploration and their post-graduation path—whether that’s college, credentials, the military, apprenticeships, or direct entry into the workforce.

Ready to get started?

Each school has different needs. To find out which of these opportunities is the best fit for your building, reach out to your MAISD Career Exploration Specialist today!

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Time: Between 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Sign up for a 1.5 hour session.
Location: GRCC Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse

What’s Included?

• Hands-on learning and career exploration in a variety of STEM industries
• FREE admission for students and schools
• Transportation reimbursement provided by The Right Place (the lead organizer of the event)
• Event Sign Up

Heads up, 7th Grade Educators! Coming this fall, we are thrilled to announce the Seed to Supper: Explore, Create, and Discover Food System Careers Expo.

• Who: 7th graders interested in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Hospitality & Tourism career clusters.

• What: During this hands-on experience, students will journey through the food system, from

  seed and soil to processing, distribution, and the dinner table. Working in small groups,

  students will rotate through engaging activity stations led by local employers, industry

  professionals, and community partners. Along the way, they will discover the wide

  variety of careers that support Michigan agriculture, food production, natural resources,

  environmental stewardship, and technology.

• When: Oct. 30, 2026, sessions offered between 8:30am - 1:30pm

• Where: Muskegon Community College

• MCDM Connection: This event hits Target 1, 2, 3 & 5, moving students from general awareness to intentional exploration of one of Michigan's largest industries.

Click the link to the Muskegon Promise updates from March 2026!

Interested in checking out what is happening in K - 5th with Career Awareness? Click the image to view the K-5 monthly newsletters.

Interested in checking out what is happening in 9th -12th grade with Career Preparation? Click the image to view the 9-12 monthly newsletters.

CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO LEARN MORE!

Tricia Schuitema

Career Exploration Specialist, Grades 6-8

Muskegon Area ISD

tschuitema@muskegonisd.org

w: 231.767.3628, c: 231.767.5591

Please forward this newsletter to teachers and staff in your buildings so fellow educators can "subscribe" to get monthly career exploration newsletter updates!