This spring event introduced high school students to a variety of CTE programs, including flight simulation, drones, CDL simulation, SIM Lab (human medical simulation), Chemistry (crime scene investigation), Welding, Construction, Manufacturing, Robotics, Fire Fighting & Management, Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Pharmacy Tech.
Fifty local, state, and federal employers were ready to interview and hire students at the Career Fair. Klamath Community College also ran an open house so students could meet with financial aid advisors, student life staff, student government representatives, and student club leaders.
The Southern Oregon Education Service District in cooperation with Klamath Community College held a Meet Your Future Employees Tour for Manufacturing. Local employers were invited to tour two high school manufacturing programs, both Henley High School and Mazama High School have growing manufacturing programs and were the focus of this event. The tours allowed employers to see what their future employees were learning in the classroom. The local employers were also able to offer suggestions on how to improve the learning outcomes so that students have the specific skills necessary to be successful in the job place. Employers were also able to see what items classrooms need, which will benefit the high schools as well.
High school administration and advisors came together to discuss support for students on their journey to higher education. Both Oregon Tech and KCC shared resources while the advisors shared ideas on how to help students be successful in their college level classes.
KCC partnered with IYS to offer career services and wildland fire training over the summer. Students that were active in IYS completed YouScience testing, and learned about cover letters, resume building and interview skills. They also learned basic skills in wildland fire.
Dear Industry Partners,
Being based locally is an asset! Strengthen your community partnerships by reaching out to your Career Connected Systems Navigator or Small Business Development Center. For further guidance, contact your Workforce Development Board, STEM Hub Director or get in touch with high school career and guidance counselors.
Your direct involvement makes a difference! Provide guidance and feedback to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs by serving on a local CTE Program Advisory Committee. Mentor young people by developing internships, registered apprenticeships and posting job opportunities. Engage in outreach and promotion by participating in a career day or career fair.
Do you have a resource or contact to share? Please reach out to us at the contact information below! For an overview of how your company can get involved, download our CCL Guide for Industry Partners below. You can also visit the Career Connect Oregon page for industry partners.
Dear Community-Based Organizations,
Did you know that Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are uniquely suited to improve workforce development for young people ages 18-24 with pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships? Learn more by reading this helpful article by the Center for Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning!
While your organization builds capacity to run apprenticeship programs, you can partner with other organizations and provide essential training, offer referrals, and contribute services to complement existing programs. Consider pilot programs as a viable starting point!
For information about national apprenticeship initiatives, consult Apprenticeship USA. For resources specific to Oregon, check out this link from the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries. The Oregon Health Authority is partnering with CBOs to provide funding for apprenticeship programs. Additional sources for general funding can be found at Care Oregon and the Oregon Community Foundation.
Dear CTE and STE(A)M Instructors, Counselors, and Education Administrators,
If you know someone starting out, send them to the Oregon Department of Education to learn about CTE teacher preparation and licensure. Once you are in the classroom, you are covered by Oregon State Standards. In addition, Career Connect Oregon has combined standards from the American School Counselor Association and Oregon Administrative Rules in an easy-to-read handout. We also provide you with curriculum suites at Career Connect Oregon.
To stay up-to-date in your field, consult with the Association for Career and Technical Education, and always check out what in-person and online trainings Oregon PDNetworks has to offer.
Return often to stay informed about what’s happening in your region and who to get in touch with to connect your students with the rich resources in your community.
You can also visit the Career Connect Oregon Page for educators.
Dear Students,
Get help and find the career and educational path that feels right for you. Here are some places you can check out right now!
Match careers to your interests at Oregon CIS, YouScience. Ask your school counselor for more information. What’s hot? Use Oregon’s Employment Department to research wages, required skills and education for high-demand jobs. Get paid to learn at AmeriCorps, JobCorps, and YouthCorps while serving in communities across Oregon and the US.
Want to start a business? Oregon’s Small Business Development Center and DECA have programs to help your ideas grow. Many careers with high levels of responsibility require a degree or training. Find hundreds of programs across Oregon schools. Check out Oregon’s 7 Public Universities, 17 Community Colleges, and Licensed Private Career Schools. Concerned about how you’ll pay for education? Oregon Student Aid has affordable options for everyone. You can also visit the Career Connect Oregon page for students.
Resource Guide for Grades 1-4
Resource Guide for Grades 5-8
Resource Guide for Grades 9-12
Dear Families and Caregivers,
You are the first influence on the young person in your home, and Career Connect Oregon is here to assist you in guiding them. Begin by encouraging self-discovery and exploration. What jobs are they interested in? Oregon CIS, YouScience, and Oregon Department of Education’s Career Explorer are excellent, free resources for developing awareness and beginning exploration.
What skill does your student need to develop along the way? Tap Oregon Employability Skills for their traits framework and C3 for their career journey maps, which will help in planning coursework and early workplace experiences.
As students enter high school, keep an eye on Oregon Diploma requirements. Oregon Employment Department’s Career Explorer will help spark a conversation about jobs.
PARTNERS WORKING FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Title: Dean of Career Technical Education | KCC
Role Description: The Dean of Career Technical Education at a community college leads vocational and technical programs, focusing on aligning curriculum with industry demands to prepare students for the workforce. This role includes program development, faculty management, and establishing industry partnerships, ensuring students are ready for employment upon graduation.
Phone Number: 541-880-2240
E-mail: stickles@klamathcc.edu
Title: Director | KCC Small Business Development Center
Role Description: An Executive Director of a Workforce Partnership leads the development and implementation of workforce strategies across various sectors, collaborating with businesses, educational institutions and community organizations. This role focuses on creating programs that meet regional employment needs and enhance job skills, ensuring a skilled and adaptable workforce.
Phone Number: 541-205-5404
E-mail: woodley@klamathcc.edu
Title: Career Connected Learning Systems Navigator
Role Description: The Career Connected Learning Systems Navigator connects educational programs with career development, collaborating with schools and industry to provide students with diverse career learning opportunities.
Phone Number: 541-880-2264
E-mail: stiller@klamathcc.edu
Title: CCL & STEAM Program Manager
Role Description: The CCL & STEAM program manager oversees programs that integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math with Career and Technical Education (CTE) – focusing on creation practical, industry-relevant learning opportunities for students.
Phone Number: 541-776-8590 ext. 1128
E-mail: karla_clark@soesd.k12.or.us
Title: CTE Regional Coordinator
Role Description: A CTE Regional Coordinator manages and supports Career and Technical Education programs across a specific region, aligning them with both educational standards and workforce requirements. This role entails collaboration with schools and industry to tailor CTE offerings to local job market needs.
Phone Number: 541-776-8593
E-mail: brian.robin@soesd.k12.or.us
CTE Teacher Licensure is needed for an instructor to teach in a state-approved CTE program. Find out specific information for your program career cluster at the Oregon Department of Education’s CTE Teacher Licensure: Teaching, Learning, and Communication Resources. For help obtaining a CTE endorsement in your region, contact your CTE Regional Coordinator.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */CTE Educator Resources from the Oregon Department of Education provide information and a multitude of resources related to Career and Technical Education in Oregon.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Open Learning: WBL Hub is Oregon’s K-12 open educational resource repository for work-based learning. The Oregon Open Learning: WBL Hub contains resources created by Oregon educators to help learners get the experience employers are seeking and gain the skills and credentials they need to enter and succeed in their careers.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */ASPIRE – Oregon Student Aid. The ASPIRE program helps educate Oregon students to become career and college ready. ASPIRE offers education, resources and mentoring opportunities for all students.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Career Connect Oregon – Curriculum for Educators offers curriculum suites aligned with ASCA standards and OARs. Suites include quick-start guides, lesson plans, and handouts. Cooperative learning strategies and creative assessment ideas included in each suite!
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Workforce Talent Development Board provides a productive space for educators to engage and partner with one another that includes innovative task forces, research projects, data and reports, strategies and recommendations.
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Link to CTE Educator Resources
Career OneStop Take this 30-question interest assessment to help you match your interests with exciting careers.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Career Journeys Watch young Oregonians in high-demand trades share their career journeys and give you a window into their workday.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Career Pathways: Explore career pathways through the Oregon Employment Department to understand the education and training needed for different occupations. Learn which jobs are in highest demand and what they pay.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */KCC Industrial Technology: Earn Associates of Applied Sciences degrees and certificates in CNC machining, computer-aided drafting, electronics engineering technology, industrial maintenance, microelectronics and renewable energy.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */KCC Rescue and Operations Program: The Emergency Response and Operations (ERO) program at KCC offers comprehensive training in emergency services, with specializations in emergency medical technician, structural firefighting and criminal justice. It provides a range of short-term, one-year and Associate of Applied Science degrees.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Career and Technical Education: Oregon Department of Education offers programs and resources for students interested in technical and vocational education. Learn more about the 6 career areas and find programs in your school.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Apprenticeship: This website offers information on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, helping students explore hands-on training opportunities in various trades statewide.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Training Corps: For students interested in environmental careers, OCC provides opportunities for training and work experience in conservation. Get paid to learn at AmeriCorps, JobCorps, and YouthCorps while serving in communities across Oregon and the US.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */The KCC Apprenticeship Center: introduces new trade-related programs, including carpentry and HVAC. It focuses on hands-on, contextual learning to address local workforce needs, particularly in firefighting.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */KCC Digital Media Design: Master recording, editing digital media, creating mobile apps and video games, coding websites and using content management systems and social media for business growth. This program offers degrees and certificates, including an Associate of Applied Science in Digital Media Design.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Search CTE Programs Across the State. Curious about what Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are available? Visit this link for a database of searchable CTE programs at every high school in Oregon.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Young Employee Safety strives to prevent injury and illnesses and promote well-being among young workers through resource sharing and community partnership.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Career Information System provides career exploration and planning tools. Parents can access resources to help their children explore different career paths.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Student Aid: The Higher Education Coordinating Commission offers information on higher education options in Oregon, including college and university programs.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Personal Education Plan and Profile: Find out more about this document for secondary students—updated yearly—that contains their interests, coursework, career aspirations, participation in career-related learning and a portfolio of their achievements.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon C3 Career Journey Maps are centered around 16 major career clusters and designed to encourage discussion among practitioners, students and their families. Each map includes sample jobs, general specifications, job descriptions, suggestions for preparation, links to additional resources and suggestions for next steps.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Search CTE Programs Across the State: Visit this link for a database of searchable CTE Approved CTE Programs offered in Oregon’s high schools. There are two report options available; a Basic Search that displays program information for one secondary school offering CTE within the selected academic year and an Advanced Search that contains additional filtering options allowing users to explore results across, regions, counties, or career areas.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Workforce Talent Development Board – Employer Resources: Post your job openings, identify qualified candidates and plan for the future of your employees. The majority of the Workforce Talent Development Board is made up of Oregon business leaders from Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Energy, Sports and Apparel, Forest Products, Food and Beverage, and other sectors. The WTDB provides multiple tables, convenings and events for these leaders, and their public sector partners, to develop and drive strategy, policy and value for Oregon’s workforce system.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */WorkSource Oregon: Grow your skilled workers with apprenticeships, internships and training options. WorkSource Oregon is here to partner with your business and provides free services for employers and helps businesses craft job postings for improved results, convene job candidates through job fairs and hiring events. They can also help your business identify possible tax credits, provide customized workforce data analysis, and establish market-competitive wage rates to attract and retain talent.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Apprenticeship: Apprenticeships are an excellent way to invest in your community’s young workforce. They compliment classroom learning, ensure a trained and engaged staff, and contribute to worker satisfaction and retention. For details on how your business can participate, follow the link below:
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Mapping CTE, STEM and Workforce Education in Oregon This interactive story map shows how five groups promote career-connected learning and develop job skills across the state. The following maps allow you to interact with Oregon’s Community College Districts, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnerships, Education Service Districts, Regional science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) Hubs and Local Workforce Boards.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries Minors, their parents and employers should know about the laws that protect children at work. They include hiring and working conditions that are specific to minors, restrictions on the hours and the types of work a minor can do.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Regional Career Technical Education Partners and Locations
Klamath Falls, OR
This community initiative is focused on connections between the community, schools and students from preschool to career and college readiness. Established in 2012, it emphasizes the importance of education for all students, offering paths to the workforce, military or college.
Klamath Falls, OR
The Klamath Lake Forest Health Partnership unites communities to enhance forest health through job creation, sustainable manufacturing with local resources and the promotion of restoration. It emphasizes sharing best practices and fostering innovative partnerships across public and private lands.
Klamath Falls, OR
“The culture and heritage department programs are designed to protect, preserve and enhance Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin traditional cultural values. Programs and projects are developed to meet the social, spiritual and cultural needs of the tribes, and includes language instruction, tribal ceremonies, culture camp for tribal youth and gathering excursions for all tribal members. The site protection program component provides protection to ancestral and sacred sites and landscapes in cooperation with federal, state and local land management agencies, private developers and land owners.”
Klamath Falls, OR
The Basin Partners Internship Program develops career opportunities and skills for Klamath Basin students through a structured internship. By committing to a 100-hour internship at a host organization during four to five weeks, sophomores, juniors and seniors have an opportunity to earn $1,000, improve job skills, gain practical work experience, explore careers and build their résumés.
Klamath Falls, OR
The Klamath County School District offers a comprehensive array of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, spanning various fields such as agriculture, automotive, business, engineering and health occupations, each with specific areas of focus like ag mechanics, animal and plant science, aerospace and manufacturing, to prepare students for diverse career paths.
Klamath Falls, OR
The Oregon Institute of Technology is a public college in Oregon with a residential campus in Klamath Falls, Oregon, an urban campus in Wilsonville, Oregon, and additional locations in Salem and Seattle. Almost all students complete externships, co-ops, or other hands-on training inside and outside the classroom.
Klamath Falls, OR
The Klamath Community College Workforce and Community Education program delivers a diverse mix of non-credit courses, personal enrichment options and professional training opportunities. It includes essential programs like the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, GED preparation and English skills improvement, and the American English Language Institute (AELI) for international students. The offerings extend to practical training in areas such as driver’s education, skilled trades, medical assisting, CPR, CDL, and phlebotomy, alongside targeted workshops for pharmacy tech and dental radiology.
Klamath Falls, OR
OIT Career Services offers comprehensive support for students and alumni in career planning and job search, including access to Handshake for job listings, résumé help, interview preparation and career fairs. It also provides resources for employers and details for scheduling advising appointments.
Klamath Falls, OR
KCC’s Career Center offers a portal for employers, students and faculty to help students develop their careers. Employers can connect with staff and post job and volunteer opportunities. Students can take career assessments, search for jobs, learn about cooperative work experiences, get help with résumés and cover letters, prepare for interviews and engage with vocational rehabilitation services.
Klamath Falls, OR
“Klamath Community College partners with several area high schools to offer ‘College Now’ to their students. This program assists in planning and coordinating to bring high school students onto KCC’s campus to take courses and have an actual on-campus experience. This program is supported and paid for by the districts. Please see your high school counselor for details and requirements.”
Klamath Falls, OR
“Oregon Tech offers two scholarships per year to participants in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) or VEX Robotics Competition (VRC). High school seniors who actively participate and provide leadership on a successful FRC, FTC, or VRC team for two years may apply for a renewable $1,500 engineering scholarship.”
Klamath Falls, OR
“The nursing assistant program is offered in partnership with Klamath Community College. The cost of the program and books is completely covered by Sky Lakes Medical Center. Once you have been licensed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing you will be offered employment as a CNA at Sky Lakes.”
Klamath Falls, OR
The Choose Klamath website promotes Klamath County as a prime location for businesses, highlighting its strategic location, cost-effectiveness, skilled workforce and lifestyle benefits, making it attractive for business development and relocation.
Career Connected Learning is a partnership between the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Committee. Site design, implementation and content development by Southern Oregon Education Service District, in partnership with Inflexion and the Journalistic Learning Initiative.
