Being prepared for the outside world once you depart school can leave some students with sleepless nights.
That said, Helix Charter High School students have the ability to learn hands-on training in a number of different fields while still being in school.
The school’s Career Technical Education Pathways elective program allows for students to work on the job in various workplace settings around San Diego.
According to Helix Grade Principal Paula Ann Trevino, have a number of pathways to choose from.
One option is the Business/Entrepreneurship Pathway, where students are educated on business plans, accounting, marketing, and how to create a business. Students then actually create their own business where they make their own money.
“The skills gained in this pathway are transferable to everyday life and across a multitude of industries,” Trevino said. “Students will be showcasing their businesses at the San Diego Made Market in Downtown La Mesa on May 2nd.”
Meantime, Medical Pathway Instructor Kathryn Welch has students learning how to care for patients in various medical settings.
The Patient Care Pathway has students earning Medical Assistant Certifications while also interning at Sharp Hospitals in areas such as ortho, ob/gyn, family practice, pulmonary, pediatrics and others. (Photo by Kathryn Welch)“This pathway has two required courses, intro to patient care and certifications in patient care,” Welch said.
She said there are three other courses that can have a strong impact on a student’s academic career.
Those courses include med bio, anatomy, physiology, and an internship course. The program, as it is now, has been in place for three years, but we have had a medical course since the early 2000’s that focused on sports medicine.”
Welch, who has been teaching these courses since 2007, added that the program serves to prepare students to enter the medical field immediately.
“Students sit for their certificates clinical medical assistant exam in May,” Welch said, adding that the national certification allows students to enter the medical field immediately and provides them with an edge when applying to nursing or other medical programs.
“My students learn how to draw blood, administer vaccines, take vitals, and room patients,” she added. “I love this program, and I am so proud of it. Sharp and the Girard Foundation have helped make it all happen.”
Another option for students is in the Future Educators Pathway.
Amanda Dolphin, the lead teacher for this program, noted that the pathway opportunity began back in 2019 as a means to grow Helix educators from the local community.
“We wanted to ‘pull back the curtain’ and give students a unique perspective not just about the career of teaching/counseling but also to help them learn what makes a teacher effective, and how people can best learn through engaging lessons, thoughtful content, and a truly supportive environment,” Dolphin said.
“We also focus a lot on career preparation and planning,” such as interview skills, workplace etiquette, interpersonal skills, and establishing their identity as a successful, high-functioning adult who is a valuable and contributing member of society, she added.
For Helix students not yet having participated in a CTE program, what can they expect in doing so?
“All pathways are different, but the overarching principle of our CTE programs at Helix is to prepare students with the knowledge, perspective and hands-on experience for them to explore careers in each one (Education, Business, Biotechnology, Patient Care and Sustainability) while in high school so that they can try these fields out, and see if they would like to pursue them in college and beyond,” Dolphin said.
“All programs focus on community involvement and helping students experience meaningful exposure to the field through work-based learning, internships, professional guest speakers, field trips, site/industry visits, and thoughtful assignments.”
Students see opportunities open up
For students involved in any of the programs, doors can open up for when they move into the workforce world.
“I really enjoy being part of the Future Educators program because of the many hands-on experiences it provides,” senior Keira Sanchez said. “We aren’t only learning what it’s like to be a teacher, but we are also provided opportunities to work directly with students, like a teacher.
This year alone, I have given story time to students, presented to middle schoolers, tutored at two different middle schools, and interned with TK students.”
This has deepened her understanding of her future chosen career, she said.
Sophomore Jessika Easley finds the education pathway in the CTE program valuable when it comes to understanding whether a career is a good fit.
““We are given opportunities to learn about that profession from activities inside and outside the classroom,” Easley said. “Through the field trips and internships, we are able to enter the world of this career not only as observers but also as active participants. Personally, I have wanted to work with kids since I was little, but I had no idea where to start.
She said one of the skills she learned was how to interview for a job.
“What I like most about the future educators pathway is how it helps us gain a variety of skills and opportunities,” said sophomore Natalie Davis. “Through this pathway, I have learned how to reflect, communicate, and how to best support others when it comes to education. I especially enjoy all the opportunities, especially being able to go to schools and tutor kids.”
Taking an interest in the environment
Sustainability Coordinator Kevin Myron oversees students with an interest in the environment.
The Environmental Sustainability Pathway gives Helix students the chance to learn more about the environment and how best to care for it. (Photo by Jessica Elliott)“The Environmental Science Pathway is unique in that it prepares students to enter the green workforce, but we also challenge students to take what they learn about sustainability into any sector,” Myron said, adding that sustainability is something that is necessary and possible in any field.
“This is the first year we piloted the concentrator course for our pathway, which is a conservation biology class,” he added. “Next year, we will pilot the environmental chemistry course. Our first group of pathway completers will graduate in 2028. So our pathway is still in its infancy.”
Myron noted this specific program is chosen by students and fulfills graduation and college acceptance science requirements. There are additional elective courses such as oceanography, environmental literature and environmental policy and government that supplement the core science work.
“The Environmental Sustainability Pathway provides students with a comprehensive and interdisciplinary foundation for understanding environmental issues and their unequal impacts on communities,” Myron said.
“The pathway culminates in a capstone experience that enables students to earn a certification and complete an internship, strengthening their preparation for careers in the green workforce.
“Through this pathway, students develop the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to lead efforts in environmental sustainability and drive positive change across diverse fields.”
For many Helix students, the pathways to potential success once school is done are there for the taking.
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