Karen became passionate about helping high school students, parents, and counselors after so many adult clients said they wished they had done career counseling much earlier. She has always worked individually with high school students and families, but started speaking for more impact after a recent college grad quit the new job he hated and said he had to go back to school for something better suited. Karen’s high energy style, games, candy and crystal ball keeps students engaged even in large assemblies. Karen works closely with school counselors to complement their services and motivate students to take advantage of what is available. An outside special event speaker can often capture student and parent attention more than internal staff.
Karen’s high school speaking programs can help through:
- Preparatory program to make good choices for career day panels, student career project topics, shadowing and internship decisions
- Motivational program about career and educational planning so students will use existing tools such as NAVIANCE, etc
- Parent night special event program with or without students as a neutral source of information to support counselors messages
- In-service or professional association programming for superintendents, principals, and school counselors about trends in education and career planning
Save Time, Money and Heartache: A Career Workshop for Parents and Teens (or just parents)
With a huge investment of time and money, students and parents should make decisions carefully about the future. Learn insights about how to make educated, grounded decisions for future success and satisfaction. Have fun taking the “Reality Check Questionnaire” and learn about practical resources to learn more about the world of work, including the job market. Whether the student has a clear goal or tries to escape when asked the lifelong question, “What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up,” this program has something for everyone. Great program for parent night!
Career Kick-Off Student Assembly (small to large assemblies)
Motivational program to introduce career and education planning concepts and encourage use of the school computer career guidance system and school counselors. Creative game show format with prizes using surprising questions about the job market and educational planning. Student volunteers are tapped to be early users of the school guidance system and share their experiences.
Making Choices: Hands-on Quick Activity for Tentative Goals (classroom to small assemblies)
Interactive program using John Holland Party exercise to link interests and strengths to careers and education choices. Perfect to help students make educated choices about career day options as well as student projects and shadowing/internship decisions. Ensures students receive some guidance since not all will use or relate to computer guidance programs. A brief career planning overview puts the activity in context and game show questions add to the liveliness. Student volunteers will demo career and education research sites.
Trends and Best Practices: Workshop for Administrators, School Counselors and Teachers
This program can be tailored to the audience and include education and labor market trends, best practices and standards, program assessment exercises, workforce development data, and integrating career planning into curriculum development in a coordinated manner. With only 58% of students graduating from bachelor’s degrees within SIX years, special attention will be given to diverse education paths as well as parental pressure. Facilitated time for brainstorming and problem-solving can be included.
