As the holiday season approaches, we are thrilled to reflect on the progress and achievements within Career and Technical Education programs in our community. This month, we celebrate the partnerships, initiatives, and programs that continue preparing students for meaningful careers and lifelong success.

From work-based learning opportunities that connect students with industry leaders to updates from our Early Middle College and Saginaw Career Complex programs, December has been a month of growth and innovation. We are also excited to highlight the Saginaw County Youth Ambassadors Program, which empowers students to take leadership roles while exploring their future pathways.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting college and career readiness through hands-on learning, robust skill development, and opportunities for every student to thrive. Thank you for being part of our journey this year—we can’t wait to share more in the months ahead.

 Happy holidays from the CTE team!

The Saginaw Intermediate School District is excited to announce its partnership with Youth Solutions Foundations Services to provide robust career development support for students. This initiative aligns with the Michigan Career Development Model, a framework to ensure students achieve college and career readiness through comprehensive career planning and guidance.

 The Michigan Career Development Model offers schools a roadmap for integrating career development into educational programming. It emphasizes four key phases:

1. Self-Awareness – Helping students identify their interests, skills, and values to shape their career aspirations.

2. Career Awareness – Exposing students to various career paths, industries, and opportunities through exploratory activities.

3. Career Preparation – Building practical skills through internships, job shadowing, and other work-based learning experiences.

4. Career Decision-Making – Equipping students with tools to make informed choices about their postsecondary education and career pathways.

By collaborating with Youth Solutions Foundations, SISD is furthering its commitment to preparing students for success in today’s evolving workforce. This partnership will enable targeted programs and resources to ensure students receive the guidance and hands-on experiences they need to achieve their goals. 

The latest PD series session focused on the Education Development Plan required for all students in grade seven and above. Career teams reviewed state requirements, learned how the Xello platform supports EDP’s, and shared EDP best practices around Saginaw County.

In addition, an in-depth exploration of CTE Early Middle College offerings through the Great Lakes Bay Early College and CTE Dual Enrollment programs through SCC was shared. Thanks to Nolan Mizner, Hospitality & Tourism instructor, for sharing about the Dual Enrollment opportunities at Ferris State University via his program at SCC. Thanks to Brandon Hausbeck and Cody Beaver from the Saginaw City Fire Department for sharing the dual enrollment partnership between Delta College, the Saginaw City Fire Department, and SCC.

Career Teams wrapped the day with new information and helpful reminders with a Financial Aid 101 presentation from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

January Save the Date - Join us for the next Talent Tour on January 29th—additional details will be announced. Secure your spot using the QR code. We hope to see you there!

Mr. Dennis Barlow, Saginaw County Career Navigator, spent an inspiring day with Mrs. Wallace's fourth-grade class at Martin G. Atkins Elementary, bringing social-emotional learning (SEL) to life. Through interactive and engaging activities, Mr. Barlow helped students build critical skills in self-awareness and self-control.

The highlight of the day? Teaching the simple but powerful mantra: Stop. Think. Act. This practical lesson encouraged students to pause, consider their choices, and respond thoughtfully—an essential skill for navigating both school and life.

The classroom buzzed with energy and participation as Mr. Barlow created a safe and fun space for students to explore their emotions and practice self-regulation. Experiences like these show just how vital SEL is in shaping confident, empathetic, and resilient learners ready to take on any challenge.

YAP Cohort 3 students are doing amazing things! A couple of recognitions I would like to mention are Michael Baldwin who has been named the #1 pre-season wrestler in Michigan at 175 lbs in Debvision 1.  Michael also completed his community project with Saginaw United Ambassador Torrion Stevenson.  They spent quality time at the East Side Soup Kitchen serving the community while informing them about the treasure Saginaw County has to hold.

Ambassadors Kyle DuRussel and Reese Beery completed their community project with pride.  They were able to connect with many of their local community members who were very interested in learning more about the Youth Ambassador Program.  Kyle commented that the bookmarks their cohort created were a “hit” during the event.

All sophomore presentations have been completed at all local high schools!  We cannot thank the school counseling and career advisement staff enough for their help in supporting the presentation process.  What’s next?  On January 30th and 31st, sophomores will visit SCC for a half-day hands-on opportunity to Experience Their Future for junior and/or senior year! Current SCC juniors will begin program selection for their senior year during the month of January.  SCC will begin taking current sophomore applications on February 3rd.