“That’s when Career Choices curriculum is at its best,” according to Jenn Ramos of Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, California. In her 12th year of teaching, Ms. Ramos is impressed by the “student centeredness” of the curriculum. “It is right in line with my own teaching philosophy of putting students first,” she added.
“I really need to work hard,” one student explained after getting a taste of The Real World as they became immersed in Chapter 4 of Career Choices (“What Cost This Lifestyle”).
The curriculum was piloted with 75 freshman students in 2015-2016. The implementation process went smoothly and the program will be expanded to include all 600 freshmen for the 2016-2017 school year. Dr. Monica Carmo, an educational consultant for Academic Innovations, was involved in this endeavor from the beginning and was “most helpful” according to Ms. Ramos.
Particular notice and kudos are extended to Academic Innovations Curriculum and Technical Support team for their excellent work with The Teachers’ Lounge. “That [Teachers’ Lounge] is so helpful and so many questions are answered there along with some great ideas and tips to make my job easier,” added Ms. Ramos.
After being concerned about the lack of success in English and math classes, the previous principal, Patrick McDougal, began to look for solutions. At an Academic Innovations workshop in 2014, he caught a glimpse of what the curriculum could do for his students, and the program at Cosumnes Oaks began to take shape. After McDougal’s retirement in 2015, Maria Osborne, the current principal, quickly bought into the vision and the pilot program was implemented.
With a second dynamic Career Choices instructor, Lynda Bettencourt, bringing her enthusiasm to the expanded course scheduling for next year, the Cosumnes Oaks High School Wolfpack will be off and running to even greater levels of achievement and success.