The PCEC Career Mentor Program serves many school districts in McKean and Potter Counties.
The purpose of the Career Mentor Program is to provide information and resources to parents and students of both public and private schools in Potter and McKean Counties, to establish career paths and connections before the students exit from school and to track their progress for the first five years after leaving school.
School districts we currently serve include:
- Austin Area School District
- Bradford Area School District
- Coudersport Area School District
- Galeton Area School District
- Kane Area School District
- Northern Potter School District
- Oswayo Valley School District
- Otto-Eldred School District
- Port Allegany School District
- Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center (CTC)
- Smethport Area School District
Career Mentor Responsibilities:
- Assist school counselors with career activities for grades K-12.
- Assist school counselors in tracking information for Future Ready Index requirements.
- Help school counselors develop relationships with local businesses to provide opportunities for job shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, guest speakers, co-op, capstone, mock interviews, and more.
- Help school counselors facilitate job shadows, job site visitations, college fairs, career fairs, and job fairs for students.
- Help counselors work with transition coordinators and other entities for special needs students’ career planning.
Additional Career Mentor Services:
Senior Exit Surveys. Career Mentors assist school counselors with completing end of school year surveys with graduating high school seniors. The surveys are completed again at 2 years and 5 years post-graduation.
Guest Speakers. Career Mentors coordinate and host guest speakers within the school environment to provide the students’ knowledge about a specific career (education, salary, duties, etc.). These presentations help the students identify careers of interest and ones they would like to explore further.
Job Shadow Experiences. Career Mentors assist school counselors in facilitating job shadow experiences. As a result of completing job shadow experiences, students have been awarded scholarships, offered internships and summer employment.
The Career Mentor Program has launched an ongoing video project, Career Connections. Discover more on the Career Connections page, or on our YouTube channel!