Careers that Serve the Community

You can be ready for a career that will make a positive difference in the community.

Projects, learning trips and partnerships help students develop a strong understanding of the value of serving others. Hands-on learning experiences are integrated into all aspects of Aiken College and Career High School.

Career Preparation Focus Areas

• Public Administration – Human Resources, Budget/Finance, Elected Public Officials, City Government, and Community Development and Planning.

• Public Safety – Police Fire, Law, Buildings and Inspections, Emergency Response, and Crime Scene Investigation/Forensics.

• Careers in Public Education/Child Care – Child Care Providers, School Support Personnel, and Professional Education Careers.

• Government/City Services – Parks, Recreation, Health Department, Transportation, CitiCable, and Waterworks.

Career & Technical Education Department

Our first goal is to provide maximum exposure to careers:

Every 11th & 12th grader is exposed to a variety of careers. To this end, we host a monthly Aiken CC Alumni Guest Speaker Series with a focus on Aiken alumni. These speakers range from Entrepreneurs, like LaBraun Colvin; to Writers and Artists, such as Annie Ruth; and to Financial Planners, such as Fred Fagin.

Our Fall Career Fair featured a school-wide, day-long, career fair with 30 professionals representing a myriad of careers. Each student had the opportunity to engage with professionals from their top two career choices.

This spring, students also had the opportunity to Job Shadow in their top career choices. Our Job Shadowing partners included the Public Library, the City of Cincinnati Health Department, and the Wynn Child Development Center.

Fieldtrips also enhance exposure to careers. This academic year students visited the health care career expo at Xavier University and the Engineering Technology career expo at Cincinnati State.

On campus, the American Red Cross conducted a Teen Cert Program for Mr. Young’s students. This provided students with training on how to assist in a natural disaster or other major emergencies.

Mrs. Cooper’s students were taught how to use the career exploration computer program Kuder, http://cps.kuder.com/ in addition to resume writing and how to dress for success.

Our second goal is to have each graduating student leave Aiken College & Career High School with a tangible placement in postsecondary education, employment, or the military:

All graduating seniors have applied to a least one college, and Northern Kentucky University appears to be the most popular destination. Our community resource coordinator, Karen Barrett is busy assembling the seniors Career Passport portfolios. Students who are headed directly into the workforce have learned many employability soft skills form Mrs. Fortson’s JCG classes and through participation in regional competitions, such as the JCG 2008 Career Development Conference. At the conference, senior Brittany Johnson won second place in Interview Technique and junior Lanay Riley won first place in the Team Challenge. She will be advancing to the state competition in Columbus , Ohio .

Fifteen juniors and seniors demonstrated their leadership skills when they served as ambassadors for ninth graders during the CPS Career Tech Fair in January 2008. The juniors from this group have been invited to receive professional training so they may serve as student ambassadors during this coming October’s National Career Paths Network 2008 Annual Conference at the Duke Energy Center , http://www.cord.org/2008-ncpn-conference/.

Our special education juniors and seniors are learning employability skills through Easter Seals Work Resource Center (WRC) and The Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (BVR). The students also participate in the Aiken Diner and Fabric Care programs.

Lastly, many juniors and seniors are taking Art classes at the CincinnatiCenter of Arts & Technology(CATC), a non-profit partner of Cincinnati Public Schools.  CATC works with students, the majority of whom are at risk of not graduating with their peers, and teaches them core subjects, life lessons, and business skills through classes of creative expression. Classes include painting, sculpting, digital imaging, computer aided design, and ceramics. CATC also has an annual job fair and employment partners throughout the City of Cincinnati, both of which are available to our students.

For the next academic year, 2008-2009, we will create an advisory board of business and governmental representatives to assist in job shadowing, community service projects, internships and the annual job fair. We welcome volunteers who wish to be part of the advisory board.

The members of the Aiken College & Career Technical Education Department who are in the Upper Academy are as follows:

• Mrs. Jennifer McNeal, Aiken C & C’s Assistant Principal, is the program’s Administrative Leader
• Ms. Kathleen Sloan, Guidance Counselor
• Ms. Inyeai Ororokuma, J.D., a CPS Career Paths Consultant, is the program manager
• Mr. Wendell Young teaches 11 th & 12 th graders Public Safety in two courses:
• Public Safety
• Government and Public Administration
• Mrs. Sybil Cooper teaches 11 th & 12 th graders in two courses:
• Teaching Professions
• Career Exploration & Technology
• Ms. Karen Kasee teaches on the Special Education Transition Team
• Mrs. Gloria Butler is our Student Services Coordinator
• Mrs. Ericka P. Fortson is in charge of our Jobs for Cincinnati Grads Program

JCG (Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates)

Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates(JCG), a non-profit organization, was created in 1982 by the Cincinnati business community.  Our vision is to lead every student to graduation, a successful career, and life-long learning.  

  
JCG is affiliated with the state organization, Jobs for Ohio ’s Graduates (JOG) and the national organization, Jobs for America ’s Graduates (JAG).  The comprehensive Jobs for Cincinnati Graduates programs follow the national JAG model of service delivery.  JCG is also a partner in the youth workforce development system.

The mission of JCG is to assist high school students and dropouts with significant challenges, to help them graduate, and to help them successfully make a planned transition from school to career.  We accomplish our mission by focusing on the social and work skills that are required for success in school and in careers. These include:

• Integrating academic skills with job attainment, retention and advancement skills.
• Developing and guiding individualized, achievable career plans.
• Tutoring, mentoring and assisting with proficiency preparation.
• Connecting with social services to meet individual needs.
• Providing follow-up services to help overcome hurdles during.
  the year after graduation.
• Measuring results.