Find out what’s happening in our region and learn how to get connected! Postcards from the field offer a snapshot of current programming and upcoming events. Get quick access to vital details about the Portland by clicking on district details. Industry partners, parents and guardians, educators, students and CTE instructors interested in getting involved can check out our partner guides. Is there someone specific you are trying to get in touch with? Try our CCL Regional Contacts Directory. We organized our essential, regional links by audience for quick access. If you are looking for local CCL institutions, check out CCL spaces! Contact us at Career Connect Oregon to get in touch.
Portland Community College (PCC) is spearheading an assessment, alignment and collaboration project. This initiative aims to promote alignment between career-technical education (CTE) programs and employment prospects, providing educational leaders with the necessary insights for resource allocation decisions. These decisions include determining which CTE programs to offer and where to offer them. Local leaders and educators can utilize alignment data to inform students and families about the likelihood of these programs leading to meaningful employment.
The project was prompted by the stark disparities in school performance rates within the region. Educational, workforce and community-based leaders have expressed a need for a comprehensive resource that can support their work effectively. This resource is vital to directing limited resources towards underserved populations.
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, or STEM Hub Director.
Your direct involvement makes a difference! 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: Executive Director | Portland Metro STEM Partnership
Role Description: The Executive Director of the Portland Metro STEM Partnership plays a pivotal role in advancing STEM education within the Portland Metro area. They’re responsible for leading strategic direction, fostering partnerships across schools, higher education institutions and the business community to promote STEM literacy and career readiness among students.
Phone Number: 503-725-6578
E-mail: kristen.harrison@pdxstem.org
Title: STEM Hub Executive Director | South Metro-Salem STEM Partnership
Role Description: The Executive Director of a STEM Hub leads initiatives to strengthen Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education across schools and communities. This role involves strategic planning; partnership development with educational institutions, industry and government agencies; and overseeing programs that promote STEM literacy and career readiness. The director focuses on increasing access to quality STEM-learning experiences for all students.
Phone Number: 503-821-1169
E-mail: julia.betts@oit.edu
Title: Director of Accelerated Credit
Role Description: A Director of Accelerated Credit at a community college or educational institution typically manages programs that allow students to earn college credits while still in high school. This role includes overseeing dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and other accelerated credit initiatives. The director collaborates with high schools and college faculty to expand access to college-level coursework, aiming to increase educational attainment and reduce time and costs for students achieving their academic goals.
Phone Number: 971-722-7754
E-mail: courtney.gaynor@pcc.edu
Title: CCL Systems Navigator
Role Description: A Career Connected Learning Systems Navigator facilitates the integration of educational and career development programs, serving as a liaison between schools, community colleges, and industry partners. This role focuses on ensuring equitable access to career learning opportunities, guiding students through awareness, exploration, preparation, and training in various career paths.
Phone Number: 971-722-7949
E-mail: naomi.brown1@pcc.edu
Title: Director of Career Technical Education | Portland Public Schools
Role Description: The Director of CTE at Portland Public Schools leads the development of Career and Technical Education, focusing on curriculum enhancement, industry alignment and partnership-building with local businesses and educational institutions to support student career readiness in technical and scientific fields.
Phone Number: Coming soon!!
E-mail: cbrida@pps.net
Title: Workforce Program Manager | Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Role Description: The Workforce Program Manager at a Higher Education Coordinating Committee oversees the development and implementation of workforce education and training initiatives. This role involves collaborating with colleges, universities and industry partners to align educational programs with labor market needs.
Phone Number: 503-614-1685
E-mail: mschiding@nwresd.k12.or.us
Title: Worksystems Youth Services Manager
Role Description: “Barb oversees the community invests for young people ages 16-24 — this includes our NextGen program, which provides long-term intensive career coaching; our SummerWorks youth employment program, which Barb started in 2009; year-round and targeted industries internships; Learn and Earn; and our annual Youth Job Fair.”
Phone Number: 503-478-7315
E-mail: btimper@worksystems.org
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 */Oregon Employability Skills Oregon Employability Skills helps people learn and develop skills through hands-on learning and in-class experiences. These skills prepare them for future jobs in their chosen field, enhancing opportunities for a successful future.
/* 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
The National Career Clusters Framework serves as an organizing tool for Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, curriculum design and instruction. Currently, there are 16 Career Clusters in the National Career Clusters Framework, representing 79 Career Pathways to help learners navigate their way to greater success in college and career. The framework also functions as a useful guide in developing programs of study bridging secondary and postsecondary systems and for creating individual student plans of study for a complete range of career options. As such, it helps learners discover their interests and their passions, and empowers them to choose the educational pathway that can lead to success in high school, college and career.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */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 */Oregon Employability Skills Oregon Employability Skills helps people learn and develop skills through hands-on learning and in-class experiences. These skills prepare them for future jobs in their chosen field, enhancing opportunities for a successful future.
/* 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 */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 */Portland Community College Opportunity Centers: “Welcome to PCC’s Opportunity Centers – vibrant hubs that bring together people, employers, and community partners. Our expert team is committed to helping you explore careers, increase your skills, build confidence, and create a plan to succeed in your education and career.”
/* 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 */Worksystems, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that pursues and invests resources to improve the quality of the workforce in the City of Portland, and Multnomah and Washington counties. We develop policies and design workforce development programs and services delivered through a network of local partners to help people get the skills, training and education they need to go to work or to advance in their careers. Our partners include employers, labor groups, government, community colleges, high schools, community-based and economic development organizations.
/* Your custom link styles with !important */Industry Tour Overview: are an excellent way for employers to interface with students in their regions.
“When a student walks into a business their thoughts could go in a million directions, but when they go on an industry tour, they are able to experience a company’s culture. By having touch points in the tour where the students are able to use all their senses to evaluate if they could picture themselves in that career field.”
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
Portland, OR
As Oregon’s preeminent public health institution, OHSU encompasses a comprehensive network of hospitals, clinics, research facilities and academic programs in medicine, nursing and various healthcare disciplines. OHSU serves Oregonians across the state through community outreach, spanning both urban centers and rural communities.
Portland, OR
“Worksystems, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that pursues and invests resources to improve the quality of the workforce in the City of Portland, and Multnomah and Washington counties. They develop policies and design workforce development programs and services delivered through a network of local partners to help people get the skills, training and education they need to go to work or to advance in their careers.”
Bend, OR
Intel’s Hillsboro campuses are home to over 22,000 employees across four campuses, making Oregon the core of their industry. Visit their Intel in Oregon page for more information.
Portland, OR
The Portland Area Career and Technical Education Consortium unites CTE programs in eight school districts through enriched curriculum, teacher training and transitions to higher education via partnerships with Portland Community College.
Forest Grove, OR
“At Impact NW, we prevent homelessness by partnering with people navigating their journey to stability and opportunity. We serve as a community of care against these challenging times to help people dream big, find financial stability and live a beautiful life. Our programs focus on all ages, from newborn to elders, and help people facing housing insecurity find relief and build strengths, experiences and opportunities. More than half the people we serve identify as Indigenous, Black, Brown, Melanated, Immigrant or Asian, as does our staff.”
Portland, OR
“We are a Latino-led education organization, grounded in culturally-specific practices and services, that lifts up youth and families to reach their full potential. Our work springs from the core belief in Latino community self-determination—that is, the ability of community members to participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their families.”
Forest Grove, OR
“At Adelante Mujeres we recognize that despite the fact that more than 18% of the US population is Latine, they are underrepresented in decision making roles in our society. Latine voices are particularly missing from discussions that guide policies and legislature that directly impacts their lives. We want to change that. Latine women have the capacity to lead and we are working to empower the women and girls in our programs to do just that. More than 80% of Adelante Mujeres staff identify as Latine and share similar lived experiences as our participants. In fact, some of our staff were once participants in our programs. This ensures that our work maintains it’s relevance and deep roots within the community we serve.”
Hillsboro, OR
“Since 1972, Centro has built systems to improve the health and economic mobility of underserved communities in Washington County. We provide multigenerational and culturally-specific services through the following core program areas: K-12 STEAM education, workforce development, small business technical assistance, public engagement, civic advocacy, community health and wellness, transitional housing, and community-wide arts and cultural events.”
Portland, OR
CairoPDX offers a range of services, including K-12 mentoring and leadership. Their STE(A)M program provides African immigrant and refugee students with academic as well as career paths in STE(A)M.
Hillsboro, OR
“Northwest Regional ESD is the largest of Oregon’s 19 education service districts. We serve students, educators, child care providers and families living in Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook and Washington counties. Our region includes the large, urban school districts of Washington County and the smaller, rural districts located along the Columbia River, the Coastal Range and the North Oregon coast.”
Portland, OR
“Portland Metro STEM Partnership (PMSP) collaborates with public and private organizations to create an engaging, rigorous, and equitable P-20 STEM educational system that increases access for EVERY student to high-demand, high-wage STEM careers while building shared economic and social prosperity.”
Portland, OR
“Together with BIPOC community based organizations (CBOs), the NE STEAM Coalition organizes listening sessions for youth and families to discuss challenges, frame needs, and advocate for solutions in bringing STEAM opportunities and education to students of color. The coalition and partner CBOs boost program engagement by sustaining relationships with youth, offering family services and food, and supporting academic identity and achievement through authentic community ties.”
Portland, OR
The Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute is a training center for Oregon, Southwest Washington and Idaho offering careers in construction through apprenticeship.
Portland, OR
Explore majors, get interview coaching, and find jobs, internships and scholarships—all with expert guidance. Chat online, schedule an appointment, plan your future and attend transfer workshops, résumé workshops and industry-specific panels.
Portland, OR
The PCC Student Resource Center offers a variety of services. Get academic guidance, explore career paths, manage financial aid and access disability services. Find support for childcare, counseling and campus life. Explore workshops, internships and leadership opportunities.
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.
