inTO ThE COMMuniTy
Spread
the Word
AchieveTexas is an exciting initiative that can help
ignite learning and achievement in your school.
A
s a counselor, you have numerous ways you can help Community Partners
spread the word to students, teachers, parents, and Let the business and industry leaders in your community
the community about AchieveTexas and actively know what your school is doing to better prepare students
involve others in combining rigorous academics with for success in the 21st-century marketplace. The future
relevant career education. prosperity of the entire community is directly connected
to what is happening in your school today, so they’ll
involve student Leaders want to hear about the college and career initiative.
Every school has a core group of students who get things Volunteer to speak about AchieveTexas at a local civic club.
done. They’re bright, energetic, and able to motivate others Host an AchieveTexas breakfast at the school for business
to get involved. Invite them to an AchieveTexas briefing leaders. Encourage business and industry to get involved
and ask them to become AchieveTexas ambassadors for through job shadowing, internships, mentoring, and other
your school. Explain the benefits of career clusters and extended learning experiences.
programs of study, answer their questions, and ask for their
input on how to implement the initiative at your school. speak up
Your ambassadors could make presentations at school and Effective communication is the key to success in any
community programs, and serve as an invaluable peer project. Use all of the tools available—email, newsletters,
resource for students. community newspapers, school announcements, parent
letters, school website, bulletin boards, posters—to let your
Parent Programs students, parents, teachers, and community know about
Use your time at a school Open House, Back-to-School AchieveTexas. Focus on the basics and promote the benefits.
Night, or eighth grade parent orientation to give parents Include your contact information so people can follow up
an overview of AchieveTexas. Set up a display with all 16 with questions.
editions of AchieveTexas in Action and the AchieveTexas
poster, so parents can see the information their children Make Materials Available to students
are receiving at school, and learn for themselves how career There are 16 cluster guides of AchieveTexas in Action
clusters and programs of study work. available for Texas students. Work with your teachers
and administration to develop the most effective method
Team spirit for distributing these materials. For example, make the
Work with your administration and teachers to foster a team cluster guides part of the information packet students and
approach toward college and career guidance. Since teachers parents receive at eighth grade high school planning, or
are often the best people to identify a student’s abilities have teachers distribute and discuss the guides related to
and passions and offer motivation and encouragement, it’s their subject areas. The goal is to give every student the
essential to involve them in the advising process. Teachers opportunity to learn about the careers in all 16 clusters, even
can easily incorporate career awareness and exploration into if not all the clusters are available through your school.
class projects.
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