Feb. 28, 2025 – The sooner students start exploring career possibilities, the better, says Wynette Brown, an educator at Twin Lakes Academy Middle School. That's why the Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher regularly asks her students to spend time in research and discovery.
“I assign students to career clusters, and they have to find out what are the salaries, how many years of college do you need, or do you need college? Those things are important,” she shares.
Over at Springfield Middle School, CTE teacher Nichole Fisher is just as passionate about career exploration in middle school.
“If you start a path in middle school, you have a better chance of brightening and broadening your horizon,” she says.
Like Brown and Fisher, district leaders say middle school is a prime time for students to begin having conversations about careers.
“It’s not necessarily about deciding what you’re going to be right now. It’s about a focus on skills, and a focus on readiness,” explains district CTE Director Jill Fierle. “We’re helping them mature in their decision-making and opening their eyes to all of the possibilities.”
Thanks to a variety of middle school CTE courses and programs, students are gaining more awareness – and confidence – in what their futures hold. But before we dig into how the district is introducing middle schoolers to careers, let’s explore the “why” behind its methods.
Advantages To Career Exploration In Middle School
Fierle and other experts point to several key factors as to why the middle school years are the perfect time to help students explore and refine their interests.
Middle school students are beginning to identify their likes and dislikes: Educators say with the transition from childhood into adolescence, middle school students are becoming more comfortable with expressing themselves. So much so, Fisher says it’s a prime time for adults to help students narrow down strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes.
“It’s the time when it's okay to try everything and say, ‘I like it’ and ‘I don’t like it,’” she explains. “It’s okay to change your mind, but you have to start somewhere, and I think middle school is a great starting point.”
Career education helps middle school students connect to high school: Educators go on to say that helping students pinpoint their interests in middle school will help them get a better idea of what they want to pursue in high school. This includes choosing specific CTE pathways, applying to dedicated magnet programs, or enrolling in High School Acceleration programs like Early College and Advanced Placement.
“It just really sets them up for success in high school, no matter what they're doing,” Fierle says. “We can refine even deeper and go deeper into what they’re learning. The more we can prepare them for that, the better.”
Students can develop technical skills and earn certifications while in middle school: Taking advantage of career exploration courses and electives also allows middle school students to graduate with valuable hands-on experience and certifications in areas such as cybersecurity, computing, and multimedia. It’s a level of expertise Brown says helps students stand out as they apply to high school programs and, eventually, to college.
“If you go to college and have certifications, those are resume builders,” says Brown. “Those are you building your portfolio, you’re able to talk about what you have to offer.”
Exploring Our Middle School CTE Programs
The good news for Team Duval students? Middle school students have options – whether that’s homing in on specific skills or getting a broad overview of multiple industries. Here's a look at a few of these courses and initiatives.
Orientation to Career Clusters: A middle schooler’s introduction to major industries
Perhaps the most common method being used to expand middle school students’ horizons is the CTE course “Orientation to Career Clusters.”
“The course is exactly what it sounds like – students get a little piece of all of the career clusters that we offer,” shares Fierle. “Typically, we see this in the sixth grade so when they’re moving on, they can make some decisions about what they want to be a part of.”
Primarily offered to sixth graders and available in 11 schools, the course helps students understand what jobs are available in the 17 career clusters defined by the Florida Department of Education. Those clusters are: Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction; Arts, A/V Technology & Communication; Business Management & Administration; Education & Training; Energy; Engineering & Technology Education; Finance; Government & Public Administration; Hospitality & Tourism; Human Services; Information Technology; Law, Public Safety & Security; Manufacturing; Marketing, Sales, & Service; and Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics.
Teachers enhance the curriculum by bringing in guest speakers, taking students on field trips, participating in online learning modules, and more.
"A lot of sixth graders have no idea what they want to do (and) college seems so far from them,” says Brown, who teaches the course at Twin Lakes. “When you start talking about the clusters and all the jobs that fall under one cluster...you can ask students if that’s something they think they can enjoy or have a passion for.”
Real-World Applications in Information and Communications Technology
Spreadsheets, PowerPoints, and Word documents. Students enrolled in the district’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 1 or 2 courses aren’t just learning new programs and applications. They’re gaining real-world skills.
Students in Fisher’s ICT class learn foundational communications and technology applications and skills – including learning how to use Microsoft applications and set up a basic website.
“They’re very prepared, because if they leave here and go to a high school with an IT program, if they’re going to code, if they’re going to program, –– they’ll have the basics,” says Fisher.
Students can additionally earn certifications demonstrating their abilities in Microsoft Applications and Communications. They're skills Fisher believes can help position her students to gain entry into the STEM and Early College Programs they often apply to.
“It’s better to plan on the front end and have people support you than to wait until you get to high school,” she says.
Growing Young Entrepreneurs in Introduction to Marketing, Sales, and Service
At Twin Lakes Middle School, students in Wynette Brown’s Introduction to Marketing, Sales, and Service class are learning what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. They’re designing T-shirts, making tumblers, creating signs, and much more.
“The majority of my students have already taken the Orientation to Career Clusters class. What they’re doing now is trying to find out what their niche and what their passion is,” says Brown. “How can they take their passion and turn it into a profit?”
For some students, that’s meant learning how to make business cards and flyers. For others, it’s learning how to make digital products like printable signs and party favors.
Brown ultimately hopes to help her students develop a business sense that will remain with them for the long run.
“Not only am I seeing the lightbulb going off with my students, I’m having parents asking, ‘How can I get into your program?,” she says. “Students will say, ‘My mom wants to start a business and she wants to talk to you.’ And I say, ‘She doesn’t have to talk to me because she can talk to you! I’m teaching you so you can share with (others)’.”
Other Middle School Career Education and Exploration Initiatives
In addition to offering specific courses, the district offers a variety of career-centric opportunities for both middle school students and teachers. This includes:
Leveraging Career and Technical Education month in February. Special care is given to help students interact with local businesses and partners.
Inviting middle school students to attend high school SkillsUSA competitions. SkillsUSA is a national CTE organization known for preparing students for the workforce through training and competitions. Fierle says by inviting middle school students to observe competitions, they become even more excited about participating in high school CTE programs.
Introducing eighth grade students to the Duval Ready curriculum. Duval Ready, a career training program unique to Duval County Public Schools, allows high school students an opportunity to graduate with a diploma designation, signifying that they’ve received training in soft skills. Eighth grade students participate in Duval Ready through Xello, a college and career ready software platform.
Giving middle school teachers job shadowing opportunities. Fierle says the additional training helps teachers stay relevant and see how local businesses can best engage with their students.
In the end, Fierle says the goal isn’t that middle schoolers immediately discover their career path.
“We are asking ourselves what we can give them to help them learn more about themselves, understand their skill set, and see how they can apply that to continue to progress in their life," she says. “The goal is that when they leave us for graduation, they can participate in society in a positive way and improve their lives and those around them.”