Ozark City Schools Incorporates Workforce Readiness Into Every Grade and Subject

The goal of Ozark City Schools is to be The Best Small Town School Anywhere, and you can see the district’s dedication to supporting students through the Career Technical Education (CTE) programs available. Students learn about their career options in middle school, spend their high school years exploring different career paths, and develop college and career readiness skills in each of their core curriculum classes.

“The state of Alabama has really embraced CTE,” says Shanna Doran, Career Tech Director at the Ozark City Schools Career Academy. “Every district in the state has a career coach who meets with students, and we are fortunate enough to have three counselors at the high school as well who help kids pursue their interests.”

Students who graduate from this school system have the soft skills they need to enter almost any field; however, many also work toward or complete certifications related to their desired college and career fields. Learn how the Ozark City Schools Career Academy is leading the way in CTE for all learners. 

Students Are Introduced to 16 Career Clusters in Middle School

Ozark City Schools embraces the National Career Clusters® Framework, which identifies 16 career clusters that help students explore different paths for the future. These Career Clusters include topics like agriculture, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, finance, and public safety. Students are introduced to the clusters at the middle school level and learn about the different jobs involved with each of them, which helps them make strategic choices about their college and career paths once they reach high school.

Ozark City Schools is one of the few districts in the state to have a career center at the middle school level. However, administrators believe that introducing college and career options early on can give students more knowledge about their opportunities and time to decide what paths they want to take. 

Students Can Take Multiple Career Courses in High School 

Introducing Career Clusters in middle school is particularly important because students can start taking career electives as soon as they enter high school. Students usually take one career elective per semester, using the period to explore potential careers or work toward a specific certification.

Doran explains that some students take different career courses each semester throughout their high school careers until they find something they like. Other students stick with one path and work to complete a certification or an associate's degree before they graduate high school.

The Ozark City Schools Career Academy offers coursework in business, cosmetology and barbering, education and training, masonry and construction, and drafting. Within the local high schools, students can take classes related to computer science, TV production and film, JROTC, and health science.  

Every Student Develops Soft Skills in Their Coursework

Not all students will enroll in CTE coursework during their high school careers. Others might take a more traditional high school course load. However, career readiness is an integral part of any subject taught at Ozark City Schools. Teachers build soft skills development into each of their lesson plans to improve students' employability.

“My goal is for all of our programs to foster soft skills,” says Doran. “A student might take an education course and decide that they don’t want to be a teacher, but they can still use soft skills honed during that class like public speaking, teaching information to others, and leading projects.”

Doran will ask students, “If this isn’t what you want to do, what skills have you taken away from it?” This way every learning experience, even one unrelated to a student’s specific college or career field, provides value. 

The Career Academy Succeeds With Help from the Ozark Community

Countless partners support the Ozark City Schools Career Academy and make it a strong resource for students today. The school district has partnerships with Wallace Community College, Enterprise State Community College, and Troy University. Through the dual enrollment programs developed between the high school and these institutions, students can earn college credit completely free.

Local employers also support the Career Academy. All programs have an advisory council that is made up of business leaders and representatives in the field. These professionals invite students on community tours, visit the schools to discuss what they do, and provide guidance on the types of skills graduates will need to get hired.

Doran says the strong support from local businesses is an asset to the Career Academy and reflects the excitement about Ozark's future as a whole.

“When I started at the Career Academy, I immediately noticed the pride the community has in the school system and commitment to the schools,” says Doran. “Just by driving around town, you can see how excited people are about the Eagles and how they want our students to succeed.” 

Learn More About Education in Ozark-Dale County

Dale County is home to three outstanding school systems that work tirelessly to prepare students for their future careers. Whether a student is heading to college after graduation or entering the workforce directly, there are resources available within the local school system.

Learn more about education in Ozark-Dale County and how it supports the overall quality of life in the region. Your business has qualified employees graduating from the local schools and your current employees will be happy to move here.