Equipping students with life and work skills

Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana superintendent of education, noted in our local KTBS-3 podcast, “We’ve heard the term high school redesign for a long time. For a couple of decades, we have been talking about change, but those movements have been slow. The question is, what can we change to fundamentally improve our high schools?”

Currently, 80% of our high school students are pursuing a university pathway, while 20% are opting for a career or military path. At the same time, the graduation rate of our universities is well below half. These statistics strengthen the case for preparing our children to meet their full potential across all options. Dr. Brumley said that “we should strengthen our handoffs from high school to either of three positive next steps for our children — university, career or military service.

Students who start but don’t finish their university degree are often left with debt and without a specific skill to become employed. Dr. Brumley notes, “It is why, when you look at the colleges in Louisiana, we see the average student age is 27.

It is because for a decade post-high school graduation, young people are trying to figure out, ‘What am I going to do now? How am I going to support myself?’” He noted, “What is needed is to give students more help in making informed decisions about their future while they are in high school.”

As far as improving the university pathway for students, Dr. Brumley notes the importance of “providing students and their families with the opportunity for dual enrollment at high school, where they take classes for college credit. When the student takes this type of coursework in Advanced Placement, they are not only more likely to attend a college but are also more likely to stay beyond year one and graduate.”

As far as connection with career, Dr. Brumley notes, “there is an opportunity in our high schools to substitute career work experiences and apprenticeships for things that are presently required in high school.

This has led to the development of the Louisiana ‘Fast Forward’ initiative that requires school systems to partner with agencies and groups that offer full apprenticeships with different graduation pathways.”

Dr. Brumley notes that another area of great concern is creating a new approach to addressing areas of need in the teaching profession. He said, “We need to be looking at people seeking new careers, retirees from other professions or contracted individuals. As an example, a retired person with great expertise in STEM industries might teach for two hours a day on a contract with the use of technology to get that teacher in front of more students.”

Recent legislation from a couple of years ago allows individuals with a degree from any Louisiana community college to enter a classroom as a teacher, provided the district provides them with a mentor, weekly professional development, and they are enrolled in a four-year, full-time program.

At the same time, school systems will have to focus on the other side of retention. Dr. Brumley noted, “Teachers told us they want to be able to teach without interruption from administration bureaucracy, paperwork and student behavior disruptions.” This led to the creation of the “Let Teachers Teach” project of the Department of Education, which promotes a better teaching environment in our classrooms. Teachers were also supported by a new state law that prohibits students from using smartphones during the school day.

There is a significant need for improvement in school and community efforts to equip students with relevant life and work skills — skills that ensure readiness for future jobs in the Louisiana economy. This will require the business community and schools to partner on internships, apprenticeships and the expansion of career pathways, in addition to the university pathway. It is just another way we can provide opportunities for the next generation to explore their passions and gifts, unlocking their potential.

Dr. Rozeman is a practicing cardiologist and co-host of a podcast, “Education Check Up.” He is board chairman of the Louisiana Committee of 100 and has recently received the Bob Hamm Distinguished Service Award from the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL).