Teachers at Mount Vernon High School took part in a professional development day focused on better preparing students for life after graduation.
While some educators participated in a special co-teaching session, most followed one of the “E” tracks – Employment, Enrollment, or Enlistment.
These sessions were designed to give staff direct insight into post-high school pathways and help them guide students more effectively toward their goals.
Led by Julia Suggs, the Employment session kicked off with an overview of Knox County’s job market. Teachers learned about the county’s largest industries, including manufacturing and healthcare, and explored in-demand jobs, wages, and benefits.
After the classroom session, staff visited Ariel and Knox Community Hospital labs for tours.
Teachers on the Enrollment track took a trip to Kenyon College. Staff will participate in an admissions workshop focused on how selective colleges make application decisions. The session aims to help teachers understand how students can better present themselves during the college application process.
Spanish teacher Jeremy Ketterman walked away with information about the application process in addition to seeing the same issues in high school and college. “I learned how rigorous their acceptance and application process is,” said Ketterman. I also learned how college level academics is incorporating and battling the use of AI in ways that they are seeing it being used. I have a 14-year-old freshman and they have 18-year-old freshmen who are the top tier academic students and they are also using AI.”
The morning also included a campus tour and a faculty panel.
Teachers interested in military pathways heard from Sgt. Hammond of the National Guard and Col. Salvucci of the JROTC program. The session included presentations and hands-on activities with the National Guard, offering teachers a look into the enlistment option and how it can benefit students.
Social Studies Department Chair Dave Caldwell attended the Enlistment session and came away with some valuable information, “The amount of money that is available to students if they want to go into the military career,” said Caldwell. “In addition, students should have a goal when they come in here (Mount Vernon High School) so they can work toward something. It gives them a sense of purpose.”
The purpose of the day was to strengthen how staff support students in choosing their future paths—whether that’s heading to college, entering the workforce, or enlisting in the military. By hearing directly from experts and experiencing these fields first-hand, teachers can better guide students to success beyond graduation.
