Superintendent Arntzen Celebrates Successful First Year for Montana Ready Career Coaches

• Brian O'Leary
• June 13 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is celebrating the successful first year of her initiative to place nine Regional Career Coaches throughout Montana. The Career Coach Team worked in designated regions around the state to oversee career exploration and work-based learning (WBL). Coaches collaborated with schools, parents, counselors, businesses, and industries by:

• Guiding students through internships and/or apprenticeships
• Promoting ALL career pathway development including pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, OJT, military training, 2-year college, and 4-year university
• Educating teachers, counselors, parents, students, and administrators about the high demand career areas in Montana utilizing the Department of Labor and Industry labor market data information
• Developing and maintaining WBL recruiting procedures including assisting business and industry with organizing career fair events including a never-been-done-before Trades Day event in Lewistown
• Giving in-school and classroom presentations to students to prepare resumes, cover letters, job/college/FAFSA applications, and over-all career pathway plans for the future
• Partnering with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, private employers, post-secondary education institutions, and other stakeholders to plan and implement career pathway opportunities
• Work collaboratively with Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) and help build more partnerships with business/industry
• Provide professional development training to teachers and counselors for all four levels of Work Based Learning
• Provide career pathway development guidance for high school and adult education students, teachers, and school counselors through the development of a personal portfolio through the Montana Career Information System

“The Regional Career Coach model reflects my Montana Ready initiative, which focuses on preparing our children for their future through career and college readiness,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The accomplishments of these coaches emphasize the demand for career pathway development, centered on Career and Technical Education, in our schools. I applaud the dedication that our nine Career Coaches have in putting Montana students first.”

The Career Coaches worked with Montana schools to collect data of where our districts are succeeding in career, college, and community readiness as well as where more work is needed. Of the 104 schools that responded to the survey:

• 68% utilized Career Coaches for two or more activities, events, or engagements
• 17% of schools did not participate in Work Based Learning prior to receiving assistance from Career Coaches
• 44% use the Montana Department of Labor Career Information System to help students determine career pathways
• 56% have students enrolled in dual enrollment
• 100% work with the Office of Public Instruction’s Career Technical Unit and/or Career Coaches to create career pathway opportunities for students

Of the 104 schools that participated in the survey, 54 were small Class C schools. The information and data they provided indicates that small school districts utilized Regional Career Coaches more than larger schools to develop career pathways in their communities.

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