Southern Indiana Education Center and Educators Cooperative Partner on K to Workforce Advisor Certification

A diverse group of workforce and education professionals earned Southern Indiana Education Center's (SIEC) Career Advising Certification this week. This was made possible thanks to Judy Bueckert, Executive Director of the SIEC, and Dr. Steve Regur, CEO of Educators Cooperative. Their efforts advanced a cross-system certification for 30 professionals, focused on developing a common career language and a culture of on-going career conversations as the foundational elements for integrating career-related learning from kindergarten to career.

Throughout the year-long experience, participants developed and practiced using RIASEC and dialogical skills to transform their approaches to career education. They utilized new methods to test, engage with, and adapt Connect The Work approaches to complement the signature practices they already use to support students and adults. During the certification, their new skills were deployed in instructional settings, counseling interventions, parent and community engagement events, home visits, and within workforce intake and coaching sessions.?

"Coaching is not a performance but an evolution," said one participant. "One year ago, we didn’t think like this, but now we do. We’ve developed a common career language and a method for asking questions that help others, even ourselves, become more specific and vivid about our present and future options."

As the coaches presented their experiences and shared reflections with the group, a wide range of meaningful stories emerged that revealed the transformation of students, but also the coaches. Here are some of their insights:

Workforce Practitioners:

• "For 12 years, I used career assessments and didn’t like the outcomes. This year, I started with RIASEC and dialogic, and it made a huge difference."
• "Now, I start with RIASEC and avoid other assessments."
• "I self-report with every client using our simple tools."
• "I am more confident this year with outcomes for my graduates than ever before."
• "Teachers using the RIASEC lay the groundwork for us in the workforce."
• "A graduate with special needs identified with the Social theme. We placed him at a nursing home, and he became employee of the month."
• "I use this both in my personal and professional life now."
• "We’re using this with our clients; it is less about assessment and more about a way of thinking."

Notable Quote: "This RIASEC is an old school approach to workforce boards, but it seems to be a new school approach for education."

Administrators:

• "My conversations with students have deepened."
• "With this, we are getting to the 'why you are here' conversations, moving beyond mere accountability and attendance."
• "When we start talking to kids about who they are and what life looks like for them, behavioral issues decrease, and buy-in increases."
• "We must hook them from a young age, not just two weeks before graduation."
• "This is a way to listen to our kids and design for them."
• "This takes us to a new level of authentic listening and really getting to know our kids."
• "This helped me put administrative tasks aside and listen to kids."
• "Kids asked if all students get to do this."
• "These conversations are valuable to core academic work."
• "I now have these types of conversations in hallways and lunchrooms."

Notable Quote: "This has allowed me to slow down. By doing so, I am more relevant to kids. They are now coming to my office to talk."

Educators/Counselors:

• "Kids are so insightful when it comes to making connections with RIASEC."
• "Kids see a broad range of themes that show up in the world of work."
• "Kids will stand up for what they believe about each theme."
• "All kids can do this. They like it."
• "It’s much easier than I expected."
• "I’m using this new knowledge to engage employers."
• "I have done the RIASEC party and rotations with all 7th graders."
• "The RIASEC has helped us deep dive with students who have no plans and help them develop plans."
• "We have 3rd graders doing a career fair where they share their preferred RIASEC themes with visiting employers."
• "This helps build relationships and develop dreams for kids."

Notable Quote: “I do a lot with students, and during school counselor week, some teachers had students write me notes thanking me for being a school counselor. Most of the notes thanked me for teaching them about RIASEC. This speaks to how deeply it resonates with them.”

Coaches:

• "What I love about RIASEC is the ability to adjust lessons based on the time available."
• "You can use RIASEC and Dialogic methods no matter the group size."
• "I work in elementary and middle school and was surprised at how many community resources students knew and could categorize by RIASEC."
• "This approach is satisfying because kids are excited to learn about themselves."

Notable Quote: “I don’t believe the biggest waste in society is plastic bottles; it’s the waste of potential. With RIASEC, we are not wasting that potential. Students are figuring out their true potential.”

We are encouraged by the dedication of these professionals and recognize their efforts to integrate this new learning into their learning environments. Reflecting on their work, I am reminded of Judy Bueckert’s comment to me and Dr. Regur: "This knowledge and the tools we’ve created can help us reach all students, especially those we haven’t been able to reach before. Together, we can use what we’ve learned to advance a simple common language and method, sprinkling hope for every child in every grade about their future possible selves."